Indiana Statesman For ISU students. About ISU students. By ISU students.
Volume 122, Issue 39
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014
indianastatesman.com
Food Pantry opens for ISU students MAKYLA THOMPSON Reporter United Campus Ministries created a food pantry for the Indiana State University students who need help getting food. On Nov. 21, United Campus Ministries held an open house for their new food pantry, which is only for the students in the Terre Haute area. Carrie Stone, the office manager at Campus Ministries and a sophomore history major, shared how the idea of having a food pantry came about. “The past couple of years that I worked here a lot of students came in and were hungry,” Stone said. “But one of our former students came up and started doing research, and found out that it wasn’t just here, it was a common situation that students don’t have enough to eat.” To make this food pantry idea come to life they had to take some steps to be able to make it successful. They keep any food that does not need to be put in a refrigerator such as noodles, canned goods and other nonperishable items. “Basically, the campus minister Karen Smith and I just did as much research as we could, we looked at the IUPUI food pantry website, and Oregon State had a big manual how-to guide so we just
followed that,” Stone said. “We just tried to learn as much as we could, because in the beginning just her and I were going to do it no matter what, but it turned out to be bigger than we ever thought.” The food pantry is to help those students on campus who cannot afford to get food. The open house was a success, with students bringing in food and nonperishable food items. “People were in and out,” Stone said. “At least 200 people I would guess, one of the professors came in and brought 30 something of his students. We had a lot of people in the community, a lot of staff from Indiana State, and from the other colleges Harrison and Ivy Tech.” “We don’t have a refrigerator, so we need any food that you can put on a shelf,” Stone said. The food pantry is only for students from colleges in Terre Haute. “It is just going to be for students,” Stone said. “You have to show a valid student ID, but for any of the five colleges that are around town, and if they have family of course we can give them more so that their family can have things too.” Deborah Corbin, a junior who is a health administration and public health major, believes that the food pantry is a great idea for the campus.
On Nov. 21 United Campus Ministries held an open house for their new food pantry for all of the Indiana State University students who need assistance (Photo by Kira Clouse).
“I think it would be a good thing for students who are struggling with getting food, and anyone who is in need can get the help,” Corbin said. Jessica Watson, a freshman nursing major, is excited for the new food pantry and believes it will benefit many students at ISU. “I think this is a good thing for us
students who can’t make it to the store,” Watson said. “We are all broke and it will be helpful to many students.” Stone wants students to come by and get food if they need it and not to be scared to ask for help. “I am just hoping that the students will actually come and get the help that they need,” Stone said.
Affordable Care Act affects Indiana State students JOHNATHON BAKER Reporter It’s fall and along with the seasons changing it’s also open enrollment season for health care. Look to the news and everyone appears to be commenting one way or another about the now one-year-old Affordable Care Act. The intent of this article is not to pick a side on the Affordable Care Act, but to look at what it does in regard to students
enrolled in college. According to healthcare.gov, anyone under 26, whether enrolled in college or not, is still covered under their parents’ health care plan. Once 26 the individual enters a special open enrollment period and either purchases their own insurance or enrolls into a work provided health care plan. For many students, the current system may be fine, but what happens if a student’s parent loses health insurance?
What options do those individuals have? “You would be surprised how many of our undergraduate students do not have health insurance,” said Dr. Joni Clark, Indiana State’s Interim Associate Director for Student Health Promotion. Clark said that ISU does offer health care for its students, and students have different options for payment. “Students can opt for a health insurance plan and either pay the lump sum fee when they get their financial aid, or they
can pay monthly,” Clark said. The UAP Clinic located inside the ISU Health Center also offers care for students. “The UAP Clinic does not turn anyone away that is in serious need of treatment. They will work out a payment arrangement for them,” Clark said. Another option is the new Mollie R. Wheat Memorial Clinic. Located at 1433 N. 6 1/2 St., the student-run clinic ACA CONTINUED ON PAGE 2