This past weekend was the kickoff for Vegetarian Awareness Month, with the official World Vegetarian Day on October 1. This month is recognized by the North American Vegetarian Society.This non-profit organization’s mission described on their website, (www.worldvegetarianday.org) “is to provide a support network for their members, affiliated groups and vegetarians in general, as well as inform the public about how vegetarianism benefits humans, other animals and our shared earth.” This month recognizes the individuals at Point Park University, as well as all individuals that revolve their eating habits around steering clear from non-vegetarian products.Students at Point Park all have different reasons and beliefs as to why they choose to be a vegetarian.”I don’t believe in the way that the industry treats animals, and I can’t eat something that has died for my benefit,” Calla Kainaroi, a freshman sport, arts and entertainment management major, said in an interview last Tuesday in the Residential Dining Facility.Some individuals, such as sophomore education and dance major Sara Mahmood and  senior photography and digital media design major Mary Eklund choose not to eat meat because of the way it could affect a person’s health.”In my eighth grade science class someone brought in an article about ground beef,” Mahmood said in an interview last Tuesday on the 10th floor of Lawrence Hall. “The article talked about how the FDA approved the injection of chemicals into beef to make it appear pinker long after it is old. It grossed me out, and I am just too scared about not knowing what I am eating.”Likewise, Eklund believes a vegetarian diet is a healthier option.”I had a relative that passed away from having pancreatic and colon cancer,” Eklund said. “At this time I was researching about meats and the way they treated the animals. I found that being a vegetarian lowered the risk of certain cancers.”Vegetarians can order a salad at any restaurant, but it is always nice to have a large selection. Aladdin’s Eatery, a Lebanese restaurant in Mt. Lebanon, has a flavorful menu that is appealing to vegetarians.”I always tell people that if I was taking someone on a date and the person was a vegetarian, then this is a great place to take them. We have 40 veggie items on the menu that are full of flavor,” Fady Chamoun said, who owns Aladdin’s Eatery.Freshman psychology major Chloe Callison recommended Houlihan’s as a place where she enjoys eating. This restaurant has a large menu selection that caters to any type of customer.”We have many options for vegetarians including such items as our veggie mini burgers, veggie pizza, spinach salad and many other choices,” manager Deborah Lovelace said. “We have a new double-sided menu that consists of many dishes, with one side being vegetarian and the other side being gluten free.”Choosing the right foods and getting all necessary nutrients that are found in meat is necessary to be a healthy vegetarian. Nutrients such as iron, protein, and calcium are all things that vegetarians could be getting insufficient amounts of if they are not substituting them.”I usually get my protein from nuts and peanut butter, along with eating a protein bar for breakfast every morning. I also take a lot of vitamins,” Kainaroi said.Callison follows similar eating habits.”I eat items such as nuts, whole grains, soy burgers and black beans. Also, I always take vitamins including calcium, vitamin B, vitamin D and One a Day Women’s multivitamin,” Callison said in a phone interview last Tuesday.Point Park is home to students that choose to be vegetarians whether it pertains to their health or just for their caring nature towards animals. A vegetarian like Kainaroi cares about her health just as much as she cares about the animals that are being killed for human benefit.”Cows are my favorite animal and pigs are as smart as dogs,” Kainaroi said. “They should be our pets, not our food.”