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'90 SActivism

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incurably ill, I would almost
Mr. Leizerman says. "What
feel better knowing that,
I heard made a lot of sense.
because of me, other inno-
And from that day on, I
cent beings weren't painful-
became a vegetarian and ac-
ly suffering and dying, that
tive in animal rights."
everybody was trying to live
Working through SCAR,
compassionately, and that
Mr. Leizerman and col-
at least for the remainder of
leagues seek to implement
my life, I could have that as
their ideology on campus.
a comfort."
As of fall 1990, Mr. Leizer-
man says, there will be no
veal served in U-M
TAMAR SCHOENBERG
cafeterias. That, he feels, is
Porchside
a significant success for his
group, which had collected
Persuasion
petitions and put out
Tamar Schoenberg says
publicity in a stop-serving-
she's an optimist. In the
veal campaign.
type of work she does, that's
Mr. Leizerman explains
a definite assset.
that veal, even more than
The U-M graduate is a
other meats, involves cruel-
field
manager for PIRGIM,
ty in its preparation,
the
Public
Interest Research
because, among other
Group In Michigan, a non-
things, it comes from calves
partisan, non-profit organi-
slaughtered at a young age.
zation that lobbies for en-
Meanwhile, beyond the
vironmental and consumer
borders of academic Ann Ar-
protection. Her job descrip-
bor, Mr. Leizerman admits
tion includes canvassing as
his ideas and lifestyle have
well as mapping out the
inspired some good-natured
routes of other canvassers.
critique. His grandparents
Porchside persuasion is an
told him he should eat meat;
unpredictable
business. Ms.
he doesn't look well. His
Schoenberg
says
one never
mother, at first, said she
knows
what
kind
of
person,
didn't know what to cook for
with what kind of attitudes,
him.
awaits a canvasser behind
Mr. Leizerman, who grew
door #1, #2 or #30.
up in Groose Isle and who
After the door opens, Ms.
plans to go to law school,
Schoenberg presents a brief
describes these familial dif-
summary of PIRGIM issues.
ferences with humor and af-
If the response is positive,
fection. But there's no
she provides further infor-
mistaking the earnestness
mation and asks whether
which characterizes his
the person of the house
beliefs.
would like to become a con-
He says he enjoys convers-
tributing PIRGIM member.
ing with people whose opi-
"If I talk to people at the
nions differ from his own
door
and they're not suppor-
and, true to his philosophy
tive I just feel bad for them,
training, he's always looking
because they're the ones
for the strongest possible
who are missing out, she
argument against animal
says.
rights. If someone could pro-
Ms. Schoenberg is fre-
ye him "incorrect," he says
quently
asked if she is paid
he would change, but doubts
for what she does. The
that it will happen.
answer is yes, but she adds
Regarding his opposition
that with her college degree
to use of animals in medical
and abilities, she could
research, Mr. Leizerman
easily make more money
says he considers the chance
elsewhere. What keeps her
of finding cures through
in canvassing shoes is the
animal experimentation
satisfaction of putting her
remote. And, citing the in-
ideals to work.
evitability of death, he
"It feels great when you
concludes:
give
100 percent and know
"If I were dying, if I were

Mindy Young:
"You can't sit back
and let your rights be
taken away."

•

Michael Leizerman:
"I just try to live
morally."

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

31