Brandeis is once again in the running to be named Most Vegan-Friendly College Campus in a competition run by a group known as PETA2, the college student wing of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the nationally recognized animal rights group.

In 2010, Brandeis won third place in the competition, losing only to Brown University, the eventual national champion. This year Brandeis hopes to match or even beat that record.

Brandeis is again competing in the small school category, as it has fewer than 10,000 undergraduates. First place is awarded by a combination of student votes, available at PETA2’s website, and analysis by PETA2 of other factors including actual menu options.

PETA2 was founded nine years ago and promotes the parent group’s definitions of animal rights at high schools and colleges. The group is active on Facebook and Twitter, and maintains a popular blog. While PETA or PETA2 do not officially sanction affiliate chapters, student groups can log on to be sent materials supporting ethical behavior concerning animals, be they pamphlets, stickers or policy guides, and receive guidance on vegan food or bringing guest speakers to their campuses.

The organizations campaign for animals to be accorded rights of liberty and especially safety from human use, according to the main website, “on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories and in the entertainment industry,” and holds that just about any killing, consumption and caging of animals is immoral.