When we talk about the severe issue of food insecurity for college kids, your mind immediately jumps to how college students are irresponsible and make stupid decisions. It has been drilled into our heads that college students are seen as “unwise” and “stupid” compared to the average adult. We often get responses to these issues from the university officials. They recognize it is an issue, which is good, but what’s concerning is how they are suppressing the student voice in doing this. They report the issue before the disgruntled students get to, and it lets them illustrate the fight how they want it to be seen, not how it actually is for everyday college students. The truth is, almost every college student has struggled with the issue of food security. Now, you probably are not surprised by that. You might even see it as normal. College students are broke after all. But, this dominant narrative of “college kids are broke and irresponsible” shouldn’t be as normal as it is. College students are humans, why are we normalizing this kind of inhumane pain for them? The universities are not going to acknowledge this, as they believe they are doing a good job fighting the worst of this issue.

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The counterstory that should be told to fight against this negative nature towards college students is real-life perspectives and stories shared by the attending students. While college students have shown signs of a lack of responsibility, most responsible students have to work hard if not harder than everyday adults who claim themselves to be the higher-ups of life, as well as morally and mentally better. The fact that they do this much work and still manage to keep a hold of their passions and interests and social circle is truly astounding. So the issue is not that college students are irresponsible (even though some are, but that is a different issue) and choose not to budget correctly and eat healthy, it’s the fact that the universities and institutions themselves have failed to provide these adults with the necessary ability to do so. Now, this isn’t all the university’s fault. The truth be told, there are a lot of moving parts and pieces that tie the issue together. But, they are not completely immune from the blame, and work needs to be put in from them to help fight this searing problem before it gets more out of hand than it already is.

Image via Black Hawk College