Shippensburg University students showed up in droves at the Ceddia Union Building on Monday evening to get a free meal that was offered to students who are struggling financially because of the state budget impasse.
The Pennsylvania budget is nearly five months late, leaving SU students without their state grants. Many students are having difficulties affording their rent and paying for food and some were evicted from their apartments because of the impasse, according to Student Senate President Dominic Giovanniello.
SU senior Tony Ellis was one of about 230 students that came for a free meal. Ellis said he is waiting for $1,800 from the state so that he can afford housing.
“It is tougher to pay my rent,” Ellis said. “I’m trying to work with my landlord and hopefully he can wait it out with me.”
Ellis said his job may help pay for the bills, but he is also working with SU administrators to receive money. SU has been using their reserve funds to give students an advance on their grants, which will be paid back when the budget is passed.
Student Senate and administrators are trying to help students get free meals during finals week and to establish a food bank, according to Giovanniello and Student Senate Vice-President Traci Moyer. Moyer said a food bank is a possible long-term solution to this type of problem.
“The help is here. It just needs to be organized,” Giovanniello said, explaining that members of the community, including churches and SU faculty members, have offered to help students.
Moyer and Giovanniello said they blame the financial problems students are facing on the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Wolf’s lack of ability to pass a budget.
“They are acting like children,” Giovanniello said, describing the effects of the impasse as a disaster and an embarrassment for the commonwealth.
Student Senate is not the only SU organization to take action. Ellis and SU senior Halimah Smith, who are members of the Activities Programing Board (APB), said APB canceled one of its events for next week and will be replacing it with a free movie and dinner night for struggling students.
“It’s kind of sad it has gotten this far,” Ellis said. “I am starting to wonder if [the grants] will ever come.”
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