Several important arguments are:
- Support the local economy (the dollar multiplier effect keeps the wealth of your dollar spent in the local community)
- Reduce food transportation mileage (CO2 emissions, using less oil minimizes human-caused climate change and mitigates peak oil crisis)
- Reduce usage of petrochemicals for agriculture
- Tastes better, fresher, because it is picked when ripe
- Local food is cheaper than grocery store and makes available more nutritious options for working-class population (social justice issue)
- Builds community with more personal relationships
- Makes our larger food system more durabile and resilience (look at author Bill McKibben)
- Support systems with better animal welfare
- Support systems with improved working conditions for farmers
- Minimizes dependency on corporate agribusiness which do not always have people or the environment as a priority
- Business interactions with local food producers is a type of informal public education (look at author David Orr’s thoughts about a "hidden curriculum" of an institution's architecture, food systems, etc)
DePauw has an ethical responsibility to promote sustainability. Many people, whether students or staff, consider a university's sustainable rankings as a criterion for choosing DePauw as a place to go to school or work. We should strive to set an example as a privileged and higher education institution.
Compton Center student interns began working and researching local farmers and organizations about two years ago and today it involves Compton Center and Environmental Club students, SLAAC, Sodexho Dining Services, Dining Services Oversite Committee- a mixed committee headed by Dean Cindy Babington, supportive staff and administrators, as well as numerous community members and farmers. Read a 2008 article from The DePauw on SLAAC's stance regarding locally grown food and sustainability in dining services.
In cooperation with the Human Society of the United States, DePauw has chosen to move towards more local, organic, free-range and cage-free animal products, as well as more sustainable changes for Dining Services. The Humane Society recently released the following statement regarding the moves and Sodexho's new offerings in the dining options.
DePauw’s Menu: More Vegetarian Options on, Eggs from Caged Hens off
GREENCASTLE, Ind. (Feb. 12, 2009) — DePauw University cafeterias are offering students something new. After working with The Humane Society of the United States, the university is featuring a popular meat alternative on its menu—and recently ended its use of eggs from caged hens.
Starting Feb.10, DePauw is offering students Gardein, a vegetarian chicken substitute, in selected entrees. Dining Services also recently began using cage-free eggs instead of eggs from hens confined in cages so tiny they can barely move.
Steve Santo, DePauw University Dining Services Manager for Sodexo, explains, “DePauw has a strong commitment to fostering social responsibility in our students, so we’re proud to feature delicious vegetarian menu options like Gardein and end our use of cage eggs.”
Paul Shapiro, senior director of The HSUS’ factory farming campaign, comments, “The Humane Society of the United States commends DePauw for offering its students vegetarian meals, as well as for helping prevent one of the worst factory farm abuses.”
DePauw joins more than 350 other schools in moving away from using eggs from caged hens out of concern for animal welfare. U.S. factory farms confine nearly 280 million hens in barren battery cages so small, they can’t even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a sheet of paper on which to spend her whole life.
Facts
· Meat-free foods are an important antidote to factory farms, which raise and kill more than nine billion farm animals in the U.S. each year. These massive operations pollute our environment, and raising animals for food contributes to global warming at least as much as automobiles, according to the United Nations.
· While cage-free doesn’t mean cruelty-free, cage-free hens generally have two to three times more space per bird. Cage-free hens may not be able to go outside and may have parts of their beaks cut off, but they can walk, spread their wings, and lay their eggs in nests—all behaviors permanently denied to hens crammed into battery cages.
· In a landslide November vote, Californians approved Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act—a new law making it a criminal offense (with a phase-out period) to confine hens in battery cages, pigs in gestation crates and calves in veal crates.
· Gardein is also a supporter of The HSUS, donating products and offering free cooking lessons to chefs.
Finally students will present a Local Food Initiative's proposal in April to the administration and Board of Trustees. The proposal can be downloaded here.
In the meantime, visit the going local blog to find more about: sources for delicious, healthy, locally grown, and in-season foods; information about Indiana farmers, businesses, and individuals who grow, raise, produce, and sell local foods; recipes and tips for preparing seasonal dishes that are healthy, quick, easy, and delicious; and a community for sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences for GOING LOCAL in Indiana. 
Cage-Free Campus
The Cage-Free campus campaign is by the Human Society of the United States and brings together students and their schools' dining services to discontinue their use of eggs from caged birds. As of March 2008, nearly 350 schools across the country have created policies to either eliminate or reduce their use of battery eggs.
Student Jeanette Renshaw, the student leading the campaign said this,
"In the food industry today, the most common socially responsible change is the switch to cage-free eggs. Caged hens are not only problems in the realm of animal welfare, but also environmentally." 
A student has made a positive change at DePauw University. Because of her efforts, DPU has gone cage-free with shell eggs. Although nearly all the eggs we use come in liquid form, Sodexho is still considering switching to cage-free liquid eggs. The cost difference is the main obstacle right now.
Students need to voice demand for cage-free eggs via the comment cards at the dining halls, and by emails to Steve Santo, Director of Sodexho Dining Services. Equally important is that you educate other people in your greek and student organizations and your other friends.
Also, you and your family can purchase cage-free eggs yourself at the supermarket.
For more information watch this educational video: http://www.hsus.org/video_clips/battery-cage_eggs_.html
