In her high school human physiology class, Katharine Hampton was offered an ultimatum by her teacher: cut open a formaldehyde-soaked cat carcass — which may or may not be pregnant — or receive an F grade on the dissection assignment. 

“Oh, don’t worry, it’s not that bad. You should just do it,” her teacher replied after Hampton voiced her concerns.

As a longtime vegan and animal activist, Hampton knew the hard truths behind dissections. She would soon learn she was not alone in her discomfort after several classmates told her they would have opted for a more humane alternative if they had the chance. 

“What we like to say is ‘Might does not make right.’ Animals like rats, pigs and cats might look different than us and are smaller, but that doesn't give us the right to dissect them,” Hampton said. “I’ve heard stories about my classmates playing around with dead bodies during dissections… This happens in classrooms across the country, proving that animal dissections desensitize students to the suffering and needless deaths of other species. That’s a terrible lesson that’s being taught to us.”

On April 10, Hampton, a sophomore communication studies major, was flown to Sacramento to testify in front of the California State Assembly’s Committee on Education regarding the CLASS (Compassionate Learning Advancements for Science Students) Act. The bill, backed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), would require that teachers inform students about the sourcing and environmental concerns with animal dissection and their right to choose a non-animal replacement. 

The bill made it past the Committee on Education with a 6-0 vote. Although there are two more rounds left before the bill can pass, Hampton is feeling good about their chances. 

“I was a little bit nervous because it was my first time in front of a big committee like that, but it didn’t affect me as much as I thought it would because I felt so strongly about the cause,” Hampton said.

Growing up in El Dorado Hills, California, Hampton didn’t have much guidance when she decided to become vegan and advocate for animal rights in 2016. She wants to be a resource for anyone considering a vegan or plant-based diet or learning more about her cause.

Over the years, Hampton’s activism has taken a variety of forms, whether she’s pushing for dissection alternatives, tackling misinformation or rushing injured animals on the side of the road to the nearest Animal Care facilities. 

“When I was growing up, I was never taught where my food came from, or what horrors the animals on my plate endured, like how chickens are bred to grow so fast that their bodies suffer under their own weight, or how pigs and cows are painfully mutilated without anesthesia,” Hampton said. “The summer before my eighth grade, I spent every day doing research about the meat industry and what happens behind closed doors, on farms or at the slaughterhouse.”

Her passion for animal activism led to an internship with peta2 – a branch of PETA catered towards high school and college students. After Hampton’s summer internship came to an end, she was able to extend her position to remain with the organization. Following her second stint, she was extended again… then again… then again, until she was offered a part-time position. Thanks to her deep devotion and involvement, her colleagues refer to her as their “secret weapon.”

“Animal Rights has been a huge part of my life for almost eight years now, and I've done activism on a small scale throughout this entire journey,” Hampton said. “(peta2’s) work is something that would take my small-scale activism and blow it up to make a difference.”

Aside from her work with the CLASS Act, Hampton has flown to Washington D.C. to educate thousands of people on animal rights at PETA’s art exhibit, The Council of Animals (What to Do About the Humans), and she has also contributed towards peta2’s social media accounts. Although she encounters a variety of reactions and attitudes towards her endeavors, Hampton knows there’s one thing she can control in any situation. 

She doesn’t want to brag, but Hampton is known to make great vegan sugar cookies. She loves experimenting with vegan recipes like carrot bacon, vegan holiday treats and even cold brews with real pumpkin puree. She recommends Chapman students try Vegan Pizza or Healthy Junk at the House for some great vegan eats. 

Since becoming vegan, Hampton has noticed a massive increase in the flavor quality of her food. 

“I went fully vegan overnight in 2016… When I would go shopping, I would buy vegan substitutes, and it was okay. It did the job, but it wasn’t great,” Hampton said. “Today, I am blown away by how many innovations these scientists are making in meat alternatives. It introduces this alternative to people who, in the past, did not like vegan substitutes. If your excuse is that it didn’t taste good before, well, reevaluate and see if you like it.”

Hampton wants to dispel the myth that being vegan means having to spend more money — a common belief among college students. This semester, she helped revamp Chapman’s Veg Club with a new emphasis on education and awareness, showing students how they can make the switch to vegan and plant-based diets. She also hopes to take on a second major in political science and continue her work with PETA.

“Right now, I’m still very much a personal and public advocate for animals,” Hampton said. “In the future, I hope to still be doing animal rights because I do see the change that has come in only a year of me working with peta2, and I can’t imagine the change that will happen after two years of working with peta2.”

You can find Hampton’s social media posts on peta2’s TikTok and Instagram. Hampton encourages all who are interested in animal rights to reach out to the organization. Those interested in joining Veg Club can find meeting information on their Instagram page.