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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Bauston Heats Up in Debate about Farm Sanctuary
By Tina Cook, Corner Post Staff

When students entered Neff Auditorium on the MU campus, a heated debate with speaker Gene Bauston was brewing. Bauston, co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, spoke about factory farms and animal cruelty on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The event began at 7 p.m., but some two men began displaying their opinions before the speaker took the podium by arriving with food from McDonald’s. The predominately student audience listened politely to the speaker until the floor was opened to “respectful disagreements”. Many issues were discussed, varying from common farm practices to God’s plan. A few students were offended by the discussion, and one student left.

Bauston spoke about “inhumane, unsustainable” practices used on modern farms, including battery cages, gestation cages, and the treatment of dairy cows and veal calves. He said a reduction of the amount of meat produced in our nation as a solution to these problems.

Audience members challenged Bauston with questions about the make up of the human gastro-intestinal tract. Bauston countered with comments on the importance of human choice over biological function.

Bauston stressed the need for balance in life and how he believed his living vegan exemplified the needed balance by not eating or using anything made of animal products.

Contact Gene Bauston and Farm Sanctuary through www.farmsanctuary.org.

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