To Cut Costs, College Students Are Buying Less Food and Even Going Hungry

[marmar]

To Cut Costs, College Students Are Buying Less Food and Even Going Hungry

Monday, 28 September 2015 10:54
By Sara Goldrick-Rab and Katharine Broton, The Conversation | News Analysis


Studies have long shown that a college student's odds of achieving financial security and a better quality of life improve when he or she earns a degree.

But what are some of the obstacles that prevent degree attainment?

At the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, we study the challenges that students from low- and moderate-income households face in attaining a college degree. Chief among these are the many hurdles created by the high price of college. Paying the price of attending college, we find, changes who attends and for how long, as well as the college experience itself - what classes students take, the grades they earn, the activities in which they engage and even with whom they interact.

Our recent research shows an alarming trend on college campuses: an increasing number of students tell us that they are struggling in college, sometimes even dropping out, because they can't afford enough of life's basic necessity - food.

College Students Are Without Food

Pell Grants were introduced in the 1970s as the nation's flagship program to help low-income students cover their college costs. Back then, the grants covered nearly 75% of the cost of attending a public four-year college. Today, that percentage has dropped to 30. Add to this the fact that two-thirds of all current Pell Grant recipients grew up in families who live below 150% of the federal poverty line. ..................(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/32984-to-cut-costs-college-students-are-buying-less-food-and-even-going-hungry

[liberal N proud]

1. My daughter works full time while going to college full time s

So she can pay the bills.

She works nights and studies during the day. We still have to help her from time to time to make sure she does not go hungry.

[Octafish]

2. It's good for them. Practicing austerity is their future.

It'll help them pay off their college loans before they retire at age 75.

[pipoman]

3. I was in college 30 years ago and went hungry more than a few times

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. You and me both.

Thank god for Pell grants and work-study programs.
I have to admit, I was pretty thin but also in pretty good shape, since i had to walk a LOT carrying a backpack full of books.
Did not have a car for the first 3 years, so had to bus or hitchhike to classes and to /from job.

[pipoman]

7. Thin reminded me

Red Cross came to campus on a blood drive, I heard they fed people so I went....I passed out because of anemia...they did let me eat.

[My Good Babushka]

4. People like to romanticize their lean years

but it is never good for the body or mind to go hungry. Poverty and hunger are not character-builders and we should not portray them that way.

[dembotoz]

5. in me hunger did not build character,,,it built hatred

[AngryAmish]

8. A loaf of bread and a bottle of Open Pit to get through a weekend.

Let us compare bmi of college students today and 30 years ago.

[KamaAina]

9. 10-for-a-dollar ramen noodles

Yum!

[Omaha Steve]

10. Yep, so are single working parents

[Rex]

11. Things don't change, we ate several tons of top ramen to keep from starving in college.

Starving students don't do well on tests.