As recent budget cuts have left various majors expendable, programs are looking to shake things up in order to stand out in a competitive university. One program looking to make a stir is the Dairy program, held on UNL’s little brother campus: East Campus. As the home of the UNL Dairy Store and nothing else, the Dairy program remains stuck in the same rut for over 50 years: milking cows and processing it into ice cream. Now, professors are looking to completely overhaul the program.

Starting fall 2018, all East Campus activities and classes will be devoted to creating almond-based products. This includes milk and butter, which will now be used in all of their ice cream recipes.

SEECA faculty advisor Dr. Lisa Karr believes the decisions will be an evolution of the program’s future.

“Dairy is not a viable substance to base an educational program on in 2018. Many people understand how dangerous it is on your body and the consequences a life of dairy can lead to,” Karr explained. “The much safer alternative is almonds. They are easier for people to digest, and they taste better than regular milk.”

It is unclear whether the dramatic switch will increase or decrease the student enrollment in the program, however, one student is vocally upset with all the changes to the dairy program.

“Will you stop calling it the ‘Dairy’ major? It’s animal science and this almond-based crap is not what I signed up for,” Junior student Daisy Nelson, dairy nut, shouted at me outside of the newly named Almond-Dairy store. “I came here to work with animals, not with nuts.”

Nelson may be mad, but Dr. Karr’s mind is made up, regardless of what anyone else wants.

“This is what is best for the program, the university and the community as a whole,” Karr explained. “The sooner we can get off dairy-based products, the better the university we will be.”