The University of Rhode Island student senate invited the Graduate Student Association to speak at their meeting on Wednesday, working toward joint initiatives between the two organizations that represent students.
GSA President Dakota Hunter and Vice President Nick Labriola spoke to the senators about affordability issues and food insecurity.
“It is a travesty that in the state of Rhode Island, a four-year degree costs more than $150,000 on average,” Labriola said. “That is higher than the national average. That is higher than the regional average.”
Labriola said that there is disparity between accessibility to food when students are on and off-campus.
“No student should go hungry at the University of Rhode Island,” Labriola said. “Students at the Bay Campus don’t even have access to lunch options.”
Labriola referred to Jack Woodruff, a second-year undergraduate student who works as a Graduate School of Oceanography research assistant.
“He has a lunch break when he goes to work, but he has no food options,” Labriola said. “That is unacceptable and must change.”
To support efforts to combat food insecurity on campus, Hunter said that GSA will be donating $500 to the student senate’s campus affairs committee to fund their upcoming Thanksgiving food drive.
“About 28% of both graduate and undergrad students are food insecure, meaning that at any point of the day, they are unable to access a meal without some sort of great difficulty,” Hunter said.
GSA is developing their own efforts to support the Rhody Outpost Food Pantry, such as a series of “GSA Giving Boxes,” according to Hunter. They are also currently in the alpha stages of building an app, Rhody Reach, that would allow food-insecure students to access extra food from catering events.
“This is how we can use those resources in a more meaningful way to tackle a larger problem,” Hunter said.
After the GSA presentations, the senate moved to presentations from standing committees.
According to Student Organizations Chair Arpan Singh, there are 15 new organizations applying for senate recognition.
“We want to make sure we recognize the best of the best,” Singh said.
Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Kairy Gonzalez provided an update on the status of translating the student handbook into different languages.
Gonzalez said that after meeting with the Dean of Students, the committee will be moving forward with translating the handbook into Spanish. The resolution to vote on the translation will go on the senate floor at the Nov. 4 general assembly meeting.
“I want to make sure this is feasible, this is real and that this is a resolution that isn’t going on the floor for nothing,” Gonzalez said.
The campus affairs committee’s Thanksgiving food drive will begin on Sunday, Nov. 1, and continue through Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to Committee Chair Sebastian Rosa.
“Your contribution’s only going to positively affect someone this holiday season,” Rosa said. “We have our foot on the gas and we’re not stopping the car yet.”
The next general assembly meeting will take place next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Union Room 300. The session will be closed while the senate’s legal counsel is present.
