McMaster University should adopt cost-based pricing for campus food, prioritizing student well-being over profits to make healthy eating accessible for all
Food insecurity has been an ongoing concern in Hamilton for years, affecting various communities within the city, including university students at McMaster.
The rising costs of living have made it increasingly challenging for students to access affordable, nutritious meals. Addressing this issue introduces the idea of selling food at cost, instead of profit. A pricing model that prioritizes affordability, promoting well-being and equitable access.
As a university student, it is not uncommon to find yourself in a rush, with cooking being the last thing on your mind. Grabbing a quick and convenient meal on campus might seem like the perfect solution, until you are met with a big price for a decent meal. The cost of often sub-par meal options on campus leaves students choosing between affordability and hunger.
Grabbing a quick and convenient meal on campus might seem like the perfect solution, until you are met with a big price for a decent meal. The cost of often sub-par meal options on campus leaves students choosing between affordability and hunger.
A 2021 food experience survey conducted among McMaster undergraduates revealed significant levels of food insecurity on campus. The report found that 35.9 per cent of students experienced moderate food insecurity, while 23.2 per cent faced severe food insecurity. Common challenges reported by students included running out of food before having money to buy more, skipping meals due to unaffordability and resorting to low-cost alternatives to manage tight budgets.
McMaster can combat food insecurity among students and set the standard for student well-being. Food should be sold at cost instead of at a profit to increase affordability and promote healthier eating habits across campus.
Relying on student-based initiatives like the Food Collective Centre and Hamilton food banks is simply avoiding the root issue. A cost-based model would provide a more sustainable long-term solution to ensure affordable access to nutrition for students while paying living wages to the hospitality team.
A cost-based model would provide a more sustainable long-term solution to ensure affordable access to nutrition for students while paying living wages to the hospitality team.
A change like this would be monumental for students, contributing to the well-being of the McMaster community. Good nutrition is fundamental for academic success, and ensuring that students ca nourish themselves properly this would allow students to concentrate and manage stress effectively. It could also create an environment of equity where students from systematically challenging backgrounds could have a better living experience as students.
As McMaster continues to dedicate resources to advancing education and research, they should prioritize generating profits from these key areas. A cost-based pricing system for food would instead allow students to focus on their education instead of fuelling their financial stress. This model would not only contribute to our community, but could also enhance the university's overall productivity, its impact as an institute for social progress and the success and wellbeing of its students.
On Jan 17, the provincial government announced plans to change the Ontario Student Assistance Program and cut tuition by 10 per cent.
The OSAP changes include requiring students to take out a loan when receiving an Ontario Student Grant, lowering the threshold to receive financial assistance, and eliminating the six-month interest-free period after graduation.
On Jan. 31, more than 75 student associations across Canada released an open letter demanding the government reverse the changes to OSAP.
Since the announcement, multiple protests have been held across the province, including in Hamilton.
Students at McMaster are also being affected by the changes, with more than 17,000 full-time students having applied for OSAP.
Many students are concerned about the shift in financial assistance towards loans instead of non-repayable grants.
First-year social sciences student Bryce Lawrence does not get money from her parents for tuition and says she would not be able to go to school without receiving grants and loans through OSAP.
This past year, Lawrence qualified to receive a higher proportion of grants compared to loans. Going forward, she will receive more money in loans and less in grants.
“The 10 per cent tuition decrease is nothing compared to the amount that we are not going to be getting anymore and it is going to be harder for a lot of students,” Lawrence said.
During the school year, Lawrence works three days a week, with the money going directly to basic expenses like groceries, gas and her phone bill.
“I worked hard in high school to get here and I need that money to get myself through it so that in the future I can get myself a good career that will help support a family,” Lawrence said.
Looking forward to next year, Lawrence says the money she gets from OSAP probably will not be enough to cover additional costs on top of tuition.
“It’s just frustrating,” She added. “It is going be weird not having the amount of money I need. Literally nothing is free in school. It is so expensive, and once the money goes into my tuition, I will not have enough to pay for my textbooks and stuff.”
Second-year political science student Zack Anderson said the elimination of the six-month interest-free period is especially harmful.
“It is already stressful enough once I do graduate to try and find a stable income, but I always kind of knew that that six-month cushion was going to be there for me and now that rug’s been pulled out from under me,” he said.
Anderson has relied heavily on OSAP. However, even with OSAP, Anderson still struggles to cover school and living costs beyond just tuition.
This year, he was forced to take a reduced course load and work three jobs to pay for tuition and living costs.
Over the summer, Anderson was working 70-hour weeks to save up for school.
“I have had to take out loans off the bank, I have maxed out credit cards before, done all these kinds of things to try to survive and you take it day by day, week by week,” Anderson said.
While there have yet to be any announcements since Jan. 17, the Ford government’s plans are expected to be in place for the 2019-2020 academic year.
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Natalie Doland
The Silhouette
The parking cost at McMaster from September 2013-April 2014 is about $556, and the average Canadian university tuition is $5,772. This makes parking at McMaster for eight months approximately one-tenth of the average Canadian tuition.
There have been numerous cases of illegal parking this academic year. Approximately 75 tickets have been issued, and there is an indeterminate amount of parking-mischief that has gone unnoticed. There are many reasons that people feel this is their only option. Parking on campus is overly expensive, and students have limited resources to pay for fees on top of tuition. It is hard enough for students to own a car and pay for gas, let alone buy or pay for a parking permit.
A fine of $75 is administered to anyone caught scamming free parking. Even if five tickets are received over the eight month academic period, it is still cheaper than buying the most inexpensive parking pass at McMaster. It is not surprising that students are continually finding ways to cheat the system. The odds of getting caught are in the parker’s favour because it would require a great amount of staff to catch cialis for women every illegal parker. A McMaster graduate stated that her tactic worked 40 or 50 times and she paid minimally. Honest people that pay for parking are beginning to see that these illegal strategies are working. Consequently, more and more people are trying to cheat the system. As more students hear about the different tactics avoiding the system, the problem will only worsen and fewer students will pay for parking. McMaster must take action.
McMaster may argue they need to charge this amount for maintenance, new sidewalks or other miscellaneous costs. McMaster can work out this problem is through student fees. Bus passes are automatically added to a student’s fees regardless of if the student wants to use the pass. McMaster should consider the decision of designing a system where a student can opt-out of the bus pass and use that cost towards a parking permit. This would reduce the cost for students parking on campus, subsequently reducing the amount of illegal parking. McMaster’s solution to solving the illegal parking issue is imminent. The ball is in their court and it is time that they take action on this issue.
