“Four in 10 University of California students do not have a consistent source of high-quality, nutritious food,” says the Los Angeles Times, citing a recent survey of the state’s public university system. Of the 9,000 student respondents, 19 percent said they occasionally went hungry, while another 23 percent said they had enough money to eat, but didn’t always have access to high-quality, nutrient-dense foods.
In response to the survey, UC President Janet Napolitano pledged $3.3 million to address malnutrition on campus. Each school will receive $150,000, in addition to the $75,000 already earmarked for the cause last year. Across the UC system, schools are opening campus food pantries, as well as launching the “Swipe Out” program, in which students can donate extra meal-plan money to those in need.
Considering that 57 percent of respondents said they experienced difficulty finding nourishing food for the first time when they came to school, part of the problem may be that many students don’t know how to cook on a budget. To that end, UC Berkeley has launched classes to teach students to cheaply prepare their own meals. But it’s certainly true that funds are tight for many students. Just as one in four UC students struggle to find quality food, one in four are also low-income and the first generation in their families to go to college.