University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Student Food Insecurity at Eastern Kentucky University: More than a Statistic
Presenter Hometown
Richmond KY
Major
Anthropology
Department
Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Amanda S. Green
Mentor Department
Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work
Recommended Citation
Goodpaster, Gabriel M.; Green, Amanda; and Hayden, Marshawn Y., "Student Food Insecurity at Eastern Kentucky University: More than a Statistic" (2022). University Presentation Showcase Event. 5.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2022/undergraduate/5
Abstract
Food insecurity is an issue that affects the world both on macro and micro levels and even at our own university. Studies conducted across universities nationwide suggest a wide range of estimates of food insecurity, these numbers ranging from 9-50%. During the course of the pandemic, food insecurity among college students and in general worsened. Preliminary studies show, at EKU, 20% of students experience some form of food insecurity. Through a combination of ethnographic interviews and surveys, our study seeks to tell the stories of these students, who struggle daily in ensuring they have enough to eat, and to provide a primary lens to the stigma surrounding food insecurity and the use of campus resources like the Colonel’s Cupboard. The student experience of food insecurity at EKU as well as throughout their life shown in the ethnographic interviews and surveys give researchers a firmer understanding of the real-life implications of being food insecure. The study also hopes to shed light on not just food insecurity as a campus-wide issue, but also as a global one.
Presentation format
Poster
Student Food Insecurity at Eastern Kentucky University: More than a Statistic
Food insecurity is an issue that affects the world both on macro and micro levels and even at our own university. Studies conducted across universities nationwide suggest a wide range of estimates of food insecurity, these numbers ranging from 9-50%. During the course of the pandemic, food insecurity among college students and in general worsened. Preliminary studies show, at EKU, 20% of students experience some form of food insecurity. Through a combination of ethnographic interviews and surveys, our study seeks to tell the stories of these students, who struggle daily in ensuring they have enough to eat, and to provide a primary lens to the stigma surrounding food insecurity and the use of campus resources like the Colonel’s Cupboard. The student experience of food insecurity at EKU as well as throughout their life shown in the ethnographic interviews and surveys give researchers a firmer understanding of the real-life implications of being food insecure. The study also hopes to shed light on not just food insecurity as a campus-wide issue, but also as a global one.
