Student-run festival to promote vegetarianism

When Carlton Glassford realized he was turning into "that guy" who lectures others about vegetarianism to his friends, he decided to stop preaching and do something about it. From this revelation came the creation of the It's Easy Being Green Festival.\nThe event will be held from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Third Street Park, 331 S. Washington St. The music-driven vegetarian festival will feature bands and musicians such as Bury Me at Makeout Creek, The Vivid Curve, Alexander Shroyer and Any Given Week -- a band on Glassford's record label, Launchpad Records.\n"My goal is to educate people about how you can have a healthier diet as a vegetarian and to convince people that it's a better lifestyle," Glassford said. "This will be done in a telecom style -- we'll be taking pledges of days people agree to go without meat."\nNot all vegetarians believe this event will make an impact. Senior Lucas Elliot, a vegetarian of two years, is skeptical.\n"(The festival) might help current vegetarians learn how to eat healthier and maintain the lifestyle better," Elliot said, "but I'm not sure that having a festival will educate people who aren't already vegetarians."\nGlassford isn't discouraged. \n"Pledges may not seem like much," he said, "but our goal is to get 10,000 days. Ten thousand days will make a difference."\nThe festival will also encourage the use of alternative fuel sources and will feature electric- and grease-powered cars and vans provided by Pizza Express. Other contributors to the festival are Roots Vegetarian Restaurant & Juice Bar, Boxcar Books & Community Center and Bloomingfoods Market & Deli. \nFor more information, visit the event's Web site at www.myspace.com/itseasybeinggreen.