The OSU Emergency Food Pantry---Class Struggle 101

Classified workers in the Oregon University System (OUS) are now in negotiations for their next union contract, along with most other state workers. OUS is taking a hard line in demanding concessions and pay cuts from an already overworked workforce. Students at OSU, meanwhile, need a food bank in order to feed a part of the student body--read below. Tuition at OSU is artificially high at a time when university services are being cut. It clearly isn't high worker wages driving up tuition and driving the crisis in higher education. Some common cause between students and workers needs to be found and a food bank at a university should be a natural place for the left to build from. Why do some people need food pantries and experience hunger and social insecurity while others run universities and demand concessions from workers and students?

From: Sarah E. Cunningham [mailto:cunnisar@onid.orst.edu]
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 2:45 PM
Subject: OSU Emergency Food Pantry

Hello,

I am writing today to inform you about the grand opening of the OSU Emergency Food Pantry Tuesday March 31st. The OSU Emergency Food Pantry is a project of Ten Rivers Food Web, a local non-profit, and is operated by the OSU Food Group, a student organization.

I am hoping that you can help us to spread the word about the opening of the food pantry in whatever capacity you can, publication, listserv, etc..While we aim to target a specific under-served population in the emergency food system, university students, we are also open to the public and welcome the opportunity to serve university employees who may be in need of emergency food. We hope that those who are already utilizing emergency food services in the area, will find our location more convenient.

Please see the attached (and copied/pasted below) flier for more information. I left hard copies of these fliers and my card outside your offices today. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

~Sarah E. Cunningham
Student Leader, OSU Food Group
Ph.D. Student, Applied Anthropology
Oregon State University
Waldo 282
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-3905
cunnisar@onid.orst.edu