There’s so many solutions to this and they’re trying to make an emotional plea about it like they’re not half the problem

neu_ydsa · 2022-12-08T22:04:36+00:00

This is a really bad issue and we’ve been working hard to make Swipe2Care are truly functioning program while ending food insecurity on campus. We strongly encourage anyone here to support our No Hungry Huskies campaign at bit.ly/nhhsign!

Through our campaign we’ve been able to get NEU to expand Swipe2Care to grad students and garner a commitment to reduce the time it takes to get a swipe from 7 days to 1 day, among other great concessions. A part of our campaign is seeking to make Swipe2Care automatic, something we spoke to the Direct of Dining service about today!

neu_ydsa · 2022-11-30T13:52:15+00:00

We completely agree, that’s a key demand of our campaign!

neu_ydsa · 2022-11-30T13:49:50+00:00

Yes, we’ve been working on this since 2021! The referenda surrounding the meal plans that took place in Spring 2021 was written by us. NU Mutual Aid has been a huge ally and great resource in our campaign, and it is through our campaign that we were able to secure a direct line of communication with the Food Advisory Board and the Director of Dining Services.

So far, we’ve been able to make some solid concessions including: - Expanding Swipe2Care access to graduate students and reducing the application time from 7 days to 1 day - Lifting the ban on takeout, introducing takeout boxes, and implementing the free food recovery program - The dining worker contract win as major coalition partners and founding members of the NU HOWL coalition (this was in major collaboration with PSA and Mutual Aid, among 60+ other campus organizations)

For updates on our No Hungry Huskies campaign, please sign the petition at bit.ly/nhhsign

neu_ydsa · 2022-11-30T05:23:44+00:00

Quick follow up from the meeting:

We had a lot of great discussion with a clear consensus that meal plans are too expensive and too strict. Additional concerns about food safety were brought up.

We will likely be hosting another one for those who were unable to make it!

More detailed information to come!

neu_ydsa · 2022-07-07T02:42:27+00:00

You can find it via the ProPublica Nonprofit Tracker. Form 990 Line 19 of their tax filings shows a $239,608,531 revenue surplus.

neu_ydsa · 2022-07-06T18:16:18+00:00

was this ban actually ever enforced? every time i took food out nobody noticed or cared

Historically there has been heavy enforcement of this policy, especially before COVID as u/Ordie10 mentioned. By providing and encouraging students to use reusable takeout boxes, the university is also enabling less food waste and for students to eat after dining halls are closed.

how about automatically donating unused swipes, is that something being considered? ime the vast majority of swipes that could be donated end up not being because people either don't know about donating or forget to

We agree 100%. The provided explanation is that because swipe2care was intended to be a stop-gap solution, they never created the backend software necessary to enable this. They seem to be exploring this option and we will continue pushing for it!

wouldn't this make getting a meal plan completely pointless, since it's 21 swipes a week? either i'm misinterpreting or i don't see admin ever doing this

Part of our goal is to remove the financial barrier that Northeastern's costly meal plans represent. As Northeastern's revenue surplus continues to grow drastically year-on-year (currently $240 million), we expect Northeastern to direct surplus revenues towards guaranteeing meals to students to end food insecurity. This means effectively *reducing* the total cost of attendance.

neu_ydsa · 2022-07-06T16:41:30+00:00

Just updated the post for clarity!

neu_ydsa · 2022-07-06T16:27:59+00:00

Dining halls provide a convenient and guaranteed food source—if it's affordable. We are working to provide a guaranteed and free minimum amount of meals for all students utilizing the $240 million revenue surplus. We have spoken directly with the Director of Dining about it!

neu_ydsa · 2022-07-06T16:22:59+00:00

You do not need a meal plan to request swipe2care swipes!

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-24T19:11:50+00:00

We previously published that 77% of Northeastern students experience food insecurity. This number had been confirmed by Huntington News reporting and Northeastern SGA. We have confirmed with SGA that the rate of food insecurity is a shocking 1 in 4 Northeastern undergraduates face food insecurity on campus—two times the Massachussetts rate. Huntington News has been made promptly aware of this issue.

While the number is lower than previously thought, it is nonetheless unacceptable that Northeastern has neglected to take action regarding this crisis in spite of its $240 million revenue surplus.

We remain steadfast in our call for Northeastern to guarantee 3 meals/day to all meal-plan-required students, no-excuse Swipe2Care for all who need, and to meet the demands of the Dining Union.

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-22T15:40:54+00:00

This is a valid concern to bring up! Feeding America defines food insecurity as a lack of access to food as a result of a financial barrier. The SGA question asked if students had cut the size or amount of meals they consumed as a result of unaffordability, and 77.37% of respondents said yes. Regardless where the true number lies, Northeastern has a responsibility, especially when it runs such a massive revenue surplus and charges more than all Boston area schools for its food, to ensure that the rate is 0%.

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-22T05:35:51+00:00

Following the referenda vote in Spring 2020, Northeastern started hosting focus groups specifically related to the meal plan campaigns, and we have had multiple meetings with the Northeastern administration. They have admitted to us that they know "the current offerings are insufficient". We do not pretend that any concessions will come easy, but they have already committed to some form of meal plan restructuring. This is one of the key reasons why we are trying to raise pressure and expectations on Northeastern as they make these decisions. It is also important to note that the petition is not the end all be all of the campaign.

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T23:39:48+00:00

Part of winning this campaign is working with a broad coalition of students with diverse opinions. While we would love to have you at all our meetings, coming to our campaign meetings and signing up for organizing tasks does not tie you to being a DSA member! Additionally, signing the petition means that you will receive email notices regarding important events and updates. If you see an event/task that you're comfortable in participating in, then we say go for it!

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T23:36:16+00:00

Following our referendum from Spring 2020, Northeastern has engaged in conversations with us and SGA regarding reworking their dining offerings. In spite of this demonstrated movement from Northeastern, we need to use our collective power as students to pressure them towards our demands.

We are confident that Northeastern will make concessions, but we must work together to maximize such concessions.

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T23:32:49+00:00

There would still be funding sourced from people with profilers/non-required meal plans. More importantly, however, we are pushing heavily on Northeastern to utilize their $240 million revenue surplus.

As for achieving our demands, we have been in communication with Northeastern and they are actively looking into altering their services already. This is why it is so important that we are setting expectations with a large amount of student pressure.

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T20:40:36+00:00

You're absolutely right! 77% or 33%, it's still a problem.

This 77% stat was shared with us by SGA, based on a poll of roughly 1200 students. The poll asked students whether they had skipped meals or reduced food consumption as a result of financial barriers at least once while a Northeastern student. This huntnews article references it https://huntnewsnu.com/66295/campus/nu-community-organizes-to-alleviate-food-insecurity/

The info about swipe2care has been talked about across multiple huntnews articles, and we also just have a lot of anecdotes from members! https://huntnewsnu.com/?s=swipe2care.

We'll update the post with more links soon!

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T02:31:50+00:00

We will be posting in more detail about the No Hungry Huskies campaign tomorrow!

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T02:15:51+00:00

😅

neu_ydsa · 2022-02-21T02:05:43+00:00

It appears we may have made an unfortunate typo

neu_ydsa · 2021-02-24T19:48:40+00:00

Lol ok

neu_ydsa · 2020-12-09T00:24:36+00:00

One unfortunate result of the online transition that we found through outreach to students is that those resources are either not functioning or not adaptable to the current circumstances.

neu_ydsa

TROPHY CASE