The transformation of our carnivorous society

By ALEX MOTAWI — almotawi@ucdavis.edu

It’s pretty clear we have already reached the apex of meat consumption in the U.S. Animal products are finally “meating” their makers and going out of style in a flash and with good reason. Constant consumption of animal-based protein has been a mainstay in humanity since we were hunter-gatherers, but the only constant in our society is change — and it’s hitting the meat industry harder than a semi-truck.

There are a few primary problems with the meatpacking industry, and they encompass both the mental and physical realms. The most talked-about premise I’ve heard behind the abandonment of meat is the ethical quandary of mistreating and slaughtering living animals because people like eating meat. Although vegetarianism only gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1970s, vegetarianism has been and continues to be a common practice in other countries dating back to well before the 20th century. Given its long history and prevalence around the world, concerns from vegetarians about meat consumption need to be factored seriously into future decisions. Now that the U.S. as a nation has enough general food security to have the luxury of choice when it comes to daily meals, it can afford to be more humane with its nutritional choices. 

Beyond the abstract issues that are growing in priority, having a primarily meat-based diet is just not feasible anymore. As the Earth’s population is still growing, every year there are more and more humans and less and less space for livestock. The shrinking amount of available space to grow livestock will inevitably lead to a slow in meat production and will also turn even the most humane animal farms into factory farms full of mistreated animals. And to add on, the amount of arable land consumed by the production of feed for our favorite protein sources is just way too high to be feasible in the much fuller Earth of our future.

This is without even mentioning the ongoing debates about the nutritional value of meat compared to other foods in general along with theories based on us being biologically inclined to vegetarian or even frugivory diets. We have more than enough ammunition to drive our society’s transformation away from meat but with science unlocking new avenues for humanity every day, I think there’s a solid chance that meat could have a resurgence in the future.

There is a real possibility that lab-grown meat is the solution that ensures meat will be enjoyed by future generations. In my judgment, the livestock industry will be long-gone but with meat that can be grown almost anywhere with a caloric investment that’s just a fractional 

amount of traditional meat (three to four times better than chicken, six to eight times better than beef), we could very well be able to save steak. It will never be as efficient as a plant-based diet, but it’s an improvement. It also completely solves the ethical problems behind meat consumption. With no animals being harmed in its production, people would be able to eat meat without feeling guilty or morally wrong. The emergence of lab-grown meat in local markets may be met with a bit of resistance by people who like the status quo, who are scared of consuming something “unnatural,” but it’s impossible to make everyone happy and I believe that eating lab-grown meat could become the new normal.

However, this explosion of lab-grown meat is still many years down the road. A main analysis of the industry provides incredibly optimistic data stating the cost could be tenable by 2030. Other studies aren’t yet convinced implementation on a large scale is even possible due to equipment cost. To add to that, we have all had opportunities to try “alternative” plant-based meats and it’s obvious that they aren’t good enough to be legitimate replacements for traditional meat just yet. As a result, I think the U.S. meat industry is about to enter a deep dive and if it emerges, it will have a very new look. Traditional meat-based diets are being left in the past and plant-based diets are the present and future, but the lab is very well capable of ushering in a new golden age of lab-grown meat if our leaders in science can play their cards right.

Written by: Alex Motawi — almotawi@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Getting personal with your professors is a key part of the college experience

By OWEN RUDERMAN — opruderman@ucdavis.edu 

For most of the time I’ve been in college, I’ve always seen attending office hours as a last-ditch effort to raise a grade. Back at my previous college, office hours seemed to be a way to plead for an extension or to request extra credit. But after transferring to UC Davis, I realized that I was making negative assumptions about office hours. Turns out, there is a lot of value to attending office hours that isn’t often talked about.

I’ve experienced some of this hidden value myself. At the start of last quarter, I took 15 minutes to attend one of my professor’s office hours. I didn’t plan out what I was going to talk about, I just showed up to introduce myself. I thought it was no big deal, but over the course of the quarter, I realized that my initiative was having a positive impact on my experience in class. The professor recognized me and remembered my name. She was interested in how I was doing in the class and what I thought. A 15 minute interaction at the start of the quarter made the entire class so much more engaging and pleasurable.

As crazy as it sounds, professors like it when students are invested in their classes. If you are interested in your class and your professor seems nice, I highly recommend you try going to office hours. It is never a waste of time. You will immediately stand out as someone who is actually trying in a sea of students who don’t seem to care. And who knows, your professor might end up enlightening you. They could help you figure out what you want to study or what you want to do with your degree. You could discover a new passion.

General life advice isn’t the only plus to attending office hours. Getting to know your professors more at the beginning of the quarter can help you to succeed academically. If you establish a relationship early, coming in later for help or clarification becomes less stressful. I’ve heard from a couple of professors that they aren’t huge fans of students who only come to the last few sessions of office hours to attempt to salvage a low grade. Attending office hours once or twice at the start of the quarter shows your teacher you’re serious about the class and helps to maximize your chances of getting the grade you want. But attending office hours shouldn’t always be about the grades.

As you probably know, many UC Davis professors are experts in their field. As a result, they have a depth of knowledge that likely extends beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Many of them have impressive careers and experiences. Being able to draw from these banks of knowledge is incredibly valuable and one of the best things about attending college. Where else would you have access to so many smart and talented people? It would be a shame to miss out on office hours and, in turn, this incredible pool of knowledge and experience. But even if you don’t learn anything new, having a professional connection is always useful.

Building a professional relationship with your favorite professors can help you even after you leave the classroom. During my first quarter at UC Davis, I met with one of my professors during her office hours a number of times. We discussed the class, but we also talked more generally. Things like traveling, her past career and my future all came up during my meetings with her. Because I attended her office hours, I now have a better understanding of what I want to do with my degree and potential opportunities. Whenever we see each other around campus, she always checks in to see how I’m doing. And since we now know each other decently well, she’s offered to put in a good word for me wherever I should need it.

As you can hopefully see, office hours aren’t just a place for students who are struggling. They’re a valuable resource that can help you in almost every aspect of your college life. They’re not scary, and they aren’t a huge commitment. A few minute-long conversations with an interesting person at the start of the quarter can transform your entire experience. When you look at it like that, who wouldn’t want to pop into the office?

Written by: Owen Ruderman — opruderman@ucdavis.edu 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Carelessly canceling others isn’t a substitute for listening to those impacted and addressing your own biases

Technology has not only shaped the way we’re able to present ourselves online, but also the way we’re capable of viewing and judging others. The whole experience of using social media is detached: Often the images we post online are highly artificial, either by being manipulated in their angles, edited with photo editing apps or evaluated and vetted for how others will perceive them. Even if we strive to make the images we post seem unfiltered, we often still consider how these images will be viewed by others. 

These barriers also persist in online discourse. When we present virtual versions of ourselves, we limit our ability to have a natural back-and-forth dialogue by reviewing and rewriting every word and sentence before commenting. Rarely do we vocalize unfiltered thoughts as we do while having in-person conversations. 

Often, we try to sense the general reactions to a post before commenting an opinion of our own to gauge how we might be perceived: When was the last time you commented on a post before assessing what others wrote in the comments first, let alone advocated for your original position when it seemed like the majority disagreed? It can feel easier to not contribute at all in these situations, as the fear of being lashed out at online is a powerful deterrent. 

The beauty of social media is its potential for connectivity, meaning you can comment on Kim K’s most recent post or message your favorite singer and pray for a response. Yet this connectivity comes with a price. Words and actions can circulate the globe in a matter of minutes to be judged by thousands, and once posted digitally, they’re rarely able to be retracted. 

In this sense, the ability to spread information so widely is valuable for public awareness, but when the words or actions of a public figure come under criticism online, commenters call for them to be “canceled.” 

Cancel culture, “a modern form of ostracism” as described on Wikipedia, can be problematic, especially in cases where it deters people from learning about their mistakes and actively changing their mindset. Conversations on controversial topics that don’t cause harm to others can be dominated by the majority, with little room to explore less common opinions. By shunning those with different viewpoints, and deeming them unacceptable individuals to converse with because they’re “canceled,” it stunts powerful discussions and the ability of individuals to be exposed to new ideas. 

But not all offenses are on the same level; some transgressions are severe and harmful enough that it can only be up to the people directly affected to determine a course of action and shouldn’t be assessed by strangers online.

That being said, technology and online forums have given us a space for holding important figures accountable for their actions; the act of tearing down someone’s online presence can give a feeling of palpable change when systemic change is slow and frustrating. And in some rare instances, public pressure can result in societal change, like the personal testimonies from sexual assault survivors on social media which fueled the #MeToo movement.

Yet in some cases, when someone unrelated inserts themselves into a situation, canceling does more to uplift their own status than actually opening up a discussion of why the person is getting canceled. It solidifies the canceler’s place in the majority group and sends a sign that if others do not follow suit, they’re at risk of being canceled too.

Especially when an individual’s controversial words or actions from several years ago resurface, immediately canceling them ignores the human potential for growth and change. In certain situations, when the person calling out a mistake made by another individual is in the same place of privilege, it can be a means to virtue signal. While it is important that people in places of privilege hold each other accountable, canceling someone can be a poor, performative substitute for addressing biases and prove counterproductive in effecting change. 

As students, it’s crucial to assess our own role in cancel culture on social media. In instances of canceling, we should be conscious of impacted individuals’ assessment of the incident and check our own privilege. It is vital to consider whether or not an individual has demonstrated a capacity for change and if impacted individuals’ have expressed that irreparable harm was inflicted. We should practice humility and address our own biases and privileges — far more impactful steps when cultivating systemic change than simply blaming others. 

Written by: The Editorial Board