Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Food stamps and college students
I guess you seniors are graduating just in time. The state is cracking down on the use of bridge cards by college students. See here for the story. Given our conversations in class, I think most of you will think that this is fair. But is it vertically or horizontally equitable (yes, it is at least one of them).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I actually disagree with this. I'm sure some college students may take advantage of the bridge card when they may not actually need it financially, but I bet a ton of non-student citizens in our state do the same. I don't understand why people think that college students don't deserve a little extra help. I think a lot of people assume that because people make it to college, their parents must be well-off and have the means to help pay for their child's education. However, I know several students at this school alone who don't receive any financial help from their parents; they attend school full time and are still working as many hours as they can just to pay rent and tuition and scrape by after that. I feel like, if anyone, college students deserve the opportunity to receive help from government goods such as the bridge card because today's college students are presumably the ones that are going to end up paying the most taxes in the future anyways. The article said that only students with special circumstances such as caring for a child will be qualified under the new policy. But, what about the college student who is attending school full time and working 20-30 hours a week with a minimum wage job which only pays enough money to cover tuition expenses, rent, and utilities? Why is it fair for uneducated people that don't have jobs to take advantage of the system, but college students who are trying to make their way in the world are scrutinized for asking for a little extra help? I mean, college students deserve the right not to go hungry too, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI feel extremely sorry for the many college students that actually really need these. Most of the kids I went to high school with are working full time jobs to pay their way through KVCC or WMU because they can't get any financial support from their family. It is truly a shame that so many college students that didn't truly need bridge cards took advantage of them. I have numerous friends who have done this. Their parents can pay full tuition at a school like K, yet they feel it's necessary to take extra money from the government that could have gone to a kid who actually needed it. One person I know still collects "grocery" money from his parents even though he had a bridge card. He used the bridge card for groceries and spent the monthly payments from his parents at the bar.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that the program turned out this way. I think they could have done a better job making sure the people who were able to get bridge cards actually needed them.
OOPS! I guess that post will show the court I am guilty. I have had one ever since I moved off campus. I had heard about it from my friend (who will remain anonymous) and told me about how I could get money for food a month. My roommate had also heard about his friends doing it so we applied and got one within the month. I have had one ever since. As a college kid, it does help out with many costs, and who isn't looking for ways to save money? I understand I am not in the position to say that I need it, but does my bridge card really limit others from getting one? I feel like if you applied and fit some sort of criteria, you received one. To be fair, my roommate and I have been living with two other roommates for our senior year and have been supporting them as well as us. It isn't like we go out and buy only expensive food for ourselves; we like to help out our friends too. It's not like after college I'm going to try and keep it as long as possible; it's just a perk that I heard about that I received. If that offends you, sorry.
ReplyDeleteIt really does hurt college students who actually NEED the support. Trying to work a decent workload at a school like K is absolutely stressful when you have so many academic obligations as is. My parents can't provide me with financial assistance and consider myself very fortunate because of the bridge card program. Having an extra $200 in my pocket every month really helps. And thanks to people who do use the service when it isn't necessary for them to do so- more than likely so they can run up a bigger bar tab every weekend- is now hurting students who actually need the assistance.
ReplyDeletethis is a tricky situation. I do not like it when people take advantage of this system, I know a lot of the kids who do use it to supplement their bar income. Alternatively, could a policy be put in place for college students that somehow combines fafsa/federal loan information? If a student qualifies for federal financial aid, wont the likely qualify for a bridge card?
ReplyDeleteI work 40+ hours per week, and take a full load at K all while raising 3 young kids. I do it on my own, and I wouldn't have it any other way. There are times when it absolutely sucks, but it's my life and those kids are my responsibility. If I have to wear the same sweatshirt two days in a row, or buy store brand food, so be it. I don't have to choose between food and medicine like some people, so I dont think I am all that deserving of social assistance. We all have choices to make. Some of those choices are shitty and may not seem fair. But if the worst thing that ever happens to you is not being able to go out on a weekend, then you're doing alright. I'm sure that there are students that really do need it, and I am all for getting them the help they need. I am writing in general terms here, about my individual experience. I am not in any position to say who should, or shouldn't have one. I do like Laura's idea that it should be included as part of a financial aid package though.
ReplyDeleteI think the bridge card program is a very beneficial program to a lot of college students, and its great to see the students who need that help get it. I have a bridge card and it has helped me out tremendously. The 20+ hours of work a week that I work, making minimum wage doesn't go very far at all, so getting $200 a month towards food is extremely helpfuly. On the other hand, there are sooooo many college students that abuse this program, and it's sad to see. I also think Laura's idea of including it as part of a financial aid package is brilliant.
ReplyDelete