Student Senate contemplates future of the Food Pantry

After Chief Justice Nathan Cronin asked for an additional $5,000 allocation for the Food Pantry, Student Senate discussed the future of the program. 

Cronin said the Food Pantry requested the allocation to cover the costs of food needed due to an unexpected rise in students going to the food pantry.  

“It’s kind of expanding a lot larger than we expected, which is a good thing,” Cronin said. “The November food pantry minimum served is 215 and we’re guessing it’s closer to 250.” 

The money would also be used to expand the pantry to non-food items like feminine hygiene products and toiletries. Without the allocation, Cronin said that the food pantry would only be able to provide goods to students through March.   

Sullivan Jones, senator of liberal arts, asked, with the rising number of students, if there needed to be more data collected on students to ensure that the additional funds were being used appropriately. 

“I guess I’m concerned that we’re using large amounts of funds to supplement the diet of students that might not necessarily need it,” Jones said. “I would like to see some numbers on who’s really getting food from the food pantry before we add this money. It’s not like this money is needed immediately. You certainly don’t want to ask students who are showing up ‘what’s your economic status,’ but I would like to see a way to ensure that this isn’t being taken advantage of.” 

Natalie Boyd, senator-at-large, voiced her concerns that collecting data could create a stigma about collecting food. 

“I think we should approach the subject with a little more humanity and maintain a sensibility about this,” Boyd said. “Because if you are a Chadron State College student, we take pride that you should be able to complete your classes, get the grades that you know you can earn and still put food on the table. I would rather have 10 students who don’t need it getting it than 50-100 students who do need it not getting it.” 

Student Senate allocated the full amount with a vote of 15-2.