Tuition or Dinner? Nearly Half of College Students Surveyed in a New Report Are Going Hungry

NYT ^ | 5-2-19 | Kaya Laterman

[dynachrome]

In the coming weeks, thousands of college students will walk across a stage and proudly accept their diplomas. Many of them will be hungry.

A senior at Lehman College in the Bronx dreams of starting her day with breakfast. An undergraduate at New York University said he has been so delirious from hunger, he’s caught himself walking down the street not realizing where he’s going. A health sciences student at Stony Brook University on Long Island describes “poverty naps,” where she decides to go to sleep rather than deal with her hunger pangs.

These are all examples of food insecurity, the state of having limited or uncertain access to food. Stories about college hunger have been largely anecdotal, cemented by ramen and macaroni and cheese jokes. But recent data indicate the problem is more serious and widespread, affecting almost half of the student population at community and public colleges.

[cyclotic]

One of my kids graduated last year from a small college with no meal plan. Wanna eat, cook it yourself.

He was homeschooled and was making his own breakfast and lunch at five. As an Eagle Scout, he did plenty of coking in less than perfect conditions. He even cooked lunch for a State Senator once and she survived.

Making his own meals was no big deal and he could eat very cheap if he needed to. The nearest Starbucks is probably five miles from the school and I’m sure he’s never been there.

I was listening to a talk radio show in Washington DC the other day. The host mentioned that they ran out of bottled water and he was drinking tap water. He asked one of his millennial producers if she had ever drank tap water and she was horrified at the prospect. The snowflake had only ever drank bottled water in her entire coddled life.

Personally, I enjoy the faint rubber taste of hose water just as the hot water is pushed out by the cold water from underground.

[HamiltonJay]

Bull spit. Ramen is dirt cheap. This is garbage.

[Myrddin]

My dad worked his way though college at Miami University (Oxford, OH). He had an ROTC scholarship to assist, but worked a couple jobs to meet normal living expenses. On many occasions money was tight. It's the norm for a college student working through college. Working at a restaurant is often a good choice as subsidized meals off the menu of often a "perk" of the job.

[beethovenfan]

Then they’ll go live in Daddy’s basement. They can’t get jobs with their “gender studies” degree. Better to learn to be a plumber.

[Danette]

They have cafeterias all over campus. You can buy a food punch card or pay cash. They are not paying on their student loans until AFTER they graduate......

[A Navy Vet]

Bernie (the commie) Sander's new talking points about free tuition. "Our children are going hungry while they pursue their right to higher learning. What kinda country does that?"

Watch.

[Seaplaner]

Ha!

Having been a "poor" college student for a couple of degrees, I learned how to eat with astonishing frugality (and how to not feel sorry for myself when the cupboard is a bit stingy.) I also worked through much of my college career, something I recommend.

Also, there are so very, very many food-oriented charities out there, that (almost) no Citizen has to go hungry. This includes all college students.

Slightly aside, my volunteer work frequently takes me among the poor and homeless. My consistent observation is that they have an abundance of food. It's available from a variety of charities as well as the government; and they are experts at obtaining this food. They beg for money that they use for alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, even though their cardboard signs at the intersection can often claim that they are "hungry". (They are not hungry.)

Any needy college student can take advantage of food programs, and I'm sure that some do, there is no justification for any self pity or whining among college students.

[crz]

And so are hotdogs.

[dfwgator]

Read it. Learn it. Live it.

[whistleduck]

These college level snowflakes are incredibly stupid. Cant they find the welfare office? Or the offices of the DNC crooks. Plenty of loot from the fed goberment there.

Did they learn nothing from the Klintoons? Cant they beg or grift? WTH?

[faithhopecharity]

what fuquing liars the NYSlimes is!~

first off, if a kid can’t afford to attend, he should get a job and come back when he’s saved up some $

second, all colleges have many “work study” jobs right on campus that pay enough to at least put food on the table

third, almost all colleges (public community colleges anyway) are dirt-cheap

fourth, those (many) schools automatically waive fees for almost everyone who does not have a good income or source of funding (it is a one page, one signature form in many places and everyone on public assistance or in several additional categories is AUTOMATICALLY approved by the college computer)

fifth, all colleges have active Financial Aid programs that connect students to the very generous federal student loans (the ones we always hear about students not repaying)

sixth, all college Financial Aid programs also offer a wide variety of grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid

seventh, many colleges provide free assistance to sign up for welfare, food stamps, free health care, free transit passes, rent subsides, and more

eighth, many colleges pass out Free boxes of food right there on campus (my local college does this 5 days a week, the neighboring college does this once a week at a special shop for free event where people can come and just give any name and contact number... (for announcements of future free giveaways and assistance)...... and pick out all the kinds of fresh and canned foods they personally like...for free

ninth, many colleges provide lunch deals at discount prices, free fruit/free granola health bars (just sitting out in the open for anyone to take at any time they wish)

and there is more.

my point is that this article is a bald faced lie, period, end of file. And I, for one, am sick and tired of media liars like the NYSlines!

[cymbeline]

Simple solution: go to a junior college.

[dfwgator]

The world needs ditch diggers, too.

[ConservativeMind]

This story is not true, at all. College students, sadly and wrongly, qualify for food stamps and welfare. They also hit food pantries.

I didn’t do any of these things, because I worked, but I was shocked that these same aholes qualified and got Pell Grants and everything else free.

I got none of that. I believe if you voluntarily decide to not work, you shouldn’t get any welfare or free tuition.

[Vipper]

My oldest daughter rented a place in WY that housed 6 guys and 1 other girl and herself. NONE of them knew how to cook. Armed with her 7 qt crock pot, Le Creuset and All Clad. She managed to feed them all with little work for 3 years. She collected $25 per week per person. Bought cheap or discounted meats, made breakfast casseroles, houska, oatmeal, and a ton of other things. They learned to like quiche which was made with all the leftovers at the end of the week, couscous and rice become favorites when flavored right and potatoes of all kinds. Can’t forgot the pasta dishes either. Many of them learned to cook or at least help with meal prep. This money covered all meals, cleaning supplies and toilet paper/paper towels, etc. It worked and not one went hungry.

[glorgau]

When I went to college we used to donate blood on Thursday so we could get drunk easier on quarter beer nights.

[dp0622]

Yeah and if you don’t cry like a bitch about no food or the cost of the college you come out making 150k if you take a real major.

If you don’t live in NYC and don’t know the salaries for certain fields, it’s impossible to put the cost in perspective.

If you follow up with NYU law school, you are making 400,000 a year, like my cousin is, by 40.

Now one’s forcing anyone to go anywhere.

[blueplum]

I’d guess half of community college and state college attendees are on Pell grants and/or state funding that pays their tuition and a portion of their books. The problem comes in affording housing and food while attending school full time. That problem is usually solved by a) working and saving through highschool to provide for college expenses b) attending part time and working full time; c) living with roomies; d) working weekends, and/or not spending money on partying, fashion, drugs and spring breaks (single parents having a slight edge on the food issue by qualifying for AFDC) Not fun, but with the goal of learning and graduating in mind, very doable by generations before this one, as my generation and previous generations have already proved.

But if the folks in college insist free lunches be brought in, then they should address their state, and not the federal government. And perhaps states should address the issue that not everyone belongs in college. Not everyone is smart enough or focused enough. College shouldn’t be looked as an extension of high school which function is to delay employment in the work force. The sooner folks learn that work is not school, the world doesn’t revolve around them in the workplace, the more mature they may view school as an opportunity and not a life placeholder.

[personalaccts]

You can go to the dollar tree and buy food

[Rebelbase]

5lbs of pinto beans, an onion some cheese and flour tortillas will feed someone for 1/2 a week.