College Food Banks See An Increase In Hungry Students (VIDEO)

For many students, the myth of the easy college life has always been fantasy. But the dual forces of a crippling recession and rising tuition costs are choking off the ability of many parents to help pay for their kids' education.

Which may be why, according to this report from NBC, university officials around the country are reporting that an increasing number of students are relying on college food banks.

Thanh Truong of "The Today Show" visited a student food bank at Michigan State University in East Lansing, where university officials insisted that the students who use the facility are in desperate need. "The perception that college students are free and easy, that they can go party any time, and that they have a lot of excess money just isn't real anymore," Dennis Martell, the university's Director of Health Education Services, said.

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Comments

[pstfleur]

10:25 AM on 01/04/2010

"For many students, the myth of the easy college life has always been fantasy. But the dual forces of a crippling recession and rising tuition costs are choking off the ability of many parents to help pay for their kids' education. Which may be why, according to this report from NBC, university officials around the country are reporting that an increasing number of students are relying on college food banks." As If it wasn't already hard to be an independent college student.

[onenation]

08:29 AM on 01/04/2010

Why do you chose one, singleface to picture and how did you think this choice does not carry content/context! You probably did not notice 'cuz it is so common.

[holyghostie]

09:21 AM on 01/03/2010

Universities are notoriously bloated. They never ever layoff or tighten their spending.
Their purchasing departments rarely if ever bid out purchases to find the lowest cost.
If Universities pared down their costs, they might not have to overcharge in tuition like they do now.

Also ask yourself, how is it that ONLINE degrees cost so much even after they have gained hugely in popularity. These degrees use few university services and rarely if ever require a student to use the Brick and Mortar buildings of a campus. If the number of students using these programs goes up, the fees should go down. Yet, they don't. Can you say PROFIT CENTER.

[my obama]

02:15 AM on 01/03/2010

hat tip to http://iamned-website.blogspot.com/

[graniterocksound]

12:50 AM on 01/03/2010

Wow. National news. Nice. I visited the food bank when I went to MSU. I also donate there now. Although Time Magazine did the exact same story in Oct 2008: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1847436,00.html

[21AAsalem]

09:52 PM on 01/02/2010

The cost of war is dragging down the economy. Food for students, not war!

[Frank Foley]

05:44 PM on 01/02/2010

"The perception that college students are free and easy, that they can go party any time, and that they have a lot of excess money just isn't real anymore,"

Most powerful and realistic statement ive seen in a long time. Many people dont know the struggles college kids go through these days. Its NOT parties and loads of good times anymore, its hard work and tons of debt.

[SteveDenver]

03:17 PM on 01/02/2010

Meanwhile Penn State is America's #1 Party School and almost 96% Anglo student body.

Sucks that there's plenty of money for booze in fraternities and sororities, but students who are trying to study head to food banks.

[Gatormouth]

02:48 PM on 01/02/2010

I was a student once in the 60s. Students and food banks, it sounds familiar. But where is their rage? Their patrimony is being plundered and dissipated by international corporations and their bought politicians, and they remain quiet as their future is stolen. A movie/book title catches the mood. "The Silence of the Lambs".

[Threedog]

01:24 AM on 01/03/2010

Great point. These kids were brought up on Play Station 3's, reality shows and fast food. They are the quintessential SHEEPLE.

[ILuvBubbles]

01:49 PM on 01/02/2010

Wow & Pathetic.

Bush - Mission Accomplished!

[sheilaofmiami]

12:03 PM on 01/02/2010

Having just raised to kids to college age, they are under orders to stay in the state schools for undergrad, so they can continue to be paid for by us.

It will work for now. But we do need better times ahead if they are going to learn anything useful before they graduate.

[comicpro]

08:27 AM on 01/02/2010

This is not new news. There has been poor students for as long as there has been colleges who were relying on charity organizations. The real crime is the illusion that our educational system is worth the money that people must pay to get a piece of paper just to have a CHANCE of a decent life. Who is right in the middle of that act of servitude: the banks! From the time you are legally able to sign your life away they are there to offer you loans to get your life jump started to begin owing them for years.....or until you buy a house, car, credit cards.........:(

[Chicago48]

12:35 PM on 01/02/2010

I agree with your assessment of the cost of education. I tell anybody who will listen -- I didn't pay for my education. My companies and employers paid for my education. If students can do it, they should work for companies like UPS (even the Army) to get a free education; they should get all the scholarships they can. Do not go into debt for a college education.

[bluejoni2525]

12:44 AM on 01/02/2010

When I went to college in the early seventies a lot of students were on food stamps.

[AZterritory]

10:13 PM on 01/02/2010

In the late 70s too, and working 2 or 3 jobs to stay out of debt and stay in school. I think the idea that students are partying all the time is a very small percentage in a small percentage of schools. There will always be the George W Bush party contingent and at the other end the Obamas who are working hard.

[jalowe1957]

09:55 PM on 01/01/2010

I've known for years that USC students have been turning to food banks and soup kitchens to help put food on the table. This is on top of rents being so expensive in Southern California, not to mention the tuition and fees the "independent" students were shelling out.

Some who are in grad school told me the Great Recession is making things worse. They are trying to stitch gigs together just so the monthly rent is paid, which doesn't leave much for the basic necessities.

Even so, I think anyone who attends a private institution these days ought to get their priorities straight and start thinking about transferring to a public institution, which is far cheaper and just as good.

[jojony]

11:55 PM on 01/01/2010

I would agree with you. USC is a complete waste of money.

University of Spoiled Children anyway.

I find it VERY hard to believe that the food banks are packed at USC. Please.

[av10]

10:53 AM on 01/02/2010

USC Food Support Service
http://www.usc.uwo.ca/page.asp?id=50

The unemployment rate is 12.3% in California.

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=usunemployment&met=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST060000&q=California+unemployment+rate

Housing expenses are astronomical.

[Hare]

04:38 PM on 01/01/2010

Free advice for open minded college students. Think outside the box. Learn your second language really well and then leave. Job opportunities and good jobs are waiting for you in many other places. You don't have to be a slave to your town, city, state or country. You are part of the world. As a citizen of the world you can participate totallly in the world, there you can be better off, and even appreciated. Fear is your worst enemy, fear of the unknown is keeping you from wornderful experiences. I hope you listen to me, I know it works.

[Mike Kopac]

05:23 PM on 01/01/2010

where.....aren't their employment law restrictions to overcome in the host countries? how does China do it?