FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY -- FGCU student leaders say a popular restaurant chain isn't welcome on their campus. It's an example of increasing student activism at ten-year-old Florida Gulf Coast University.

It's a non-binding resolution by the FGCU Student Senate; university administration decides which companies are welcome. But it also shows the influence that students can have. It all started with an animal rights group, fittingly called, "Power of One."

"Doing an anti-KFC petition would really help out our chance for having more food for thought, in essence," said FGCU Power of One President Regina Bale.

For their annual project, Bale and fellow members of Power of One decided to start a petition drive, protesting the animal-raising practices of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and asking the university to keep them off campus.

"We're growing so fast, there's so many opportunities for food service, and we want people to understand where their food comes from," Bale said.

It took less than four months for the group to make their case and collect more than 500 signatures, and earn the support of the student senate.

"This is a fine example to show what happens when you can come together with a common principle, a common drive, that you can make a big impact," said FGCU student body Vice President Jameson Yingling.

"Just knowing there is that many people out there who really care, I think that says a lot just how students like to get involved," said FGCU junior Adina Feliu.

FGCU says it has never been in talks to bring a KFC to campus, but the student groups say they just wanted to make a strong, preventative statement as the university continues to grow.

"I think most people would say this campus has a lot of apathy, but it has a lot of activists too," Bale said. "And I think there are a lot of people who just want the opportunity to stand up for something."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, says FGCU is the first college in the country to have a student government take a stand against KFC. For its part, KFC says it regularly monitors its suppliers for humane practices, and takes that responsibility seriously.