About SoLVe
The Society of Legal Vegans and Vegetarians
SoLVe was the brainchild of law lecturer, Peter Sankoff. While he knew most of the vegans and vegetarians at the University of Auckland Law School, Peter also knew most of them did not really know each other. He decided that a student group would be the best way to link everyone together, provide support for those who shared similar ideas and values, as well as for those who wished to learn more. Early in 2009, a small group met to found the group. In its infancy, it was known as VLS, short for the Veg Law Students.
- SoLVe BBQ – Semester 1 2009
On Earth Day 2009, April 22, the VLS held the first ever student-run vegetarian BBQ at the Law School. The event was wildly successful, mainly because so many VLS students helped staff the event and brought vegan culinary delights for sale. All of the vegan sausages and cakes/cupcakes were sold out and the VLS raised an impressive sum to fund some of its future projects.
The BBQ also generated momentum for the VLS. Weekly lunches were scheduled and well attended. During a media controversy over intensive pig farming, the VLS co-ordinated and hosted a seminar by Peter Sankoff on how the Codes of Welfare in the Animal Welfare Act facilitated shocking treatment of animals.
The VLS also hosted a pot luck dinner, and several members showed off their cooking skills by bringing tasty, healthy, and cruelty-free meals. Shortly afterwards, our 2009 President, Vernon Tava, contributed a clever suggestion for a new name for the group: SoLVe: The Society of Legal Vegans and Vegetarians. The name has stuck ever since – especially after it was so proudly displayed by the SoLVe mascot, Penny Sankoff:
Several other events followed. SoLVe continued to host weekly lunches and also morning tea on Fridays. Two other BBQs were run during semester two, raising more funds for SoLVe and getting more and more students involved. Each of these events depended on the contributions of our members – either bringing food, recipes, conversation, advice, or just their companionship.
SoLVe has consistently been a student forum that is greater than the sum of its parts. SoLVe has turned out to be everything we could have hoped: a group for vegan and vegetarian students to provide information and support to fellow veggies and vegans at Eden Crescent. SoLVe also has an “alumni” wing, and welcomes input and participation from lawyers in practice who share its values.
SoLVe’s Aims and Objectives – 2009
The law legitimises the cruelty inherent in continued exploitation of non-human animals.
As students, academics and practitioners of the law, members of SoLVe are uniquely placed to question and challenge this legitimacy.
Where the law acts as a veil hiding cruelty, it is our role to lift this veil.
To this end, SoLVe will endeavour to provide:
- Information about the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle to law students at the University of Auckland, lawyers, and academics;
- Support for and solidarity with other vegans/vegetarians;
- Advocacy of eating without cruelty;
- Advocacy for the rights and welfare of non-human animals;
- Education: Talks, Seminars, Debates, Film Screenings;
- Culinary and Social Events: Potlucks, Group dinners;
- Communication with and – where possible – assistance to other vegan/vegetarian, animal and legal groups to better achieve the ends listed above;
- The creation and maintenance of an online presence in order to disseminate our message and information as widely as possible.
