Wednesday, November 18, 2020

The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 1:00 - 2 P.M, Zoom

Committee Members in Attendance:

Present:

Dr. Kathleen Alves 

Dr. Jonathan Cornick (Chairperson)

Professor Dorith Brodbar

Dr. Elizabeth DiGiorgio

Professor Ashlie Klepper (Secretary)

Dr. Nicole McClam

Dr. Christopher Roblodowski

Dr. Jun Shin

Dr. Amy Traver

 

 

Liaisons in Attendance:

Vice-President Brian Kerr, Administrative Liaison

Ms. Ronni Weprin, Administrative Liaison

Dr. Emily Tai, Senate Designee

Ms. Asia Khan, SGA President

Ms. Amawati Gonesh, Advocacy Resource Center

 

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM

Food Insecurity Meeting via Zoom

Wednesday November 18th, 2020 1:00-2:00 PM

• Minutes from last meeting (September 23rd, 2020) were approved by committee.
• Discussion of Food Pantry Holiday Drive occurring on Wednesday Nov 25th.
  • Need volunteers for Wednesday- Brian will share the details with us.

• Vice President Kerr addressed the Chancellor’s visit to campus and explained to the committee how his visit came about. He mentioned how he and President Mangino mentioned the faculty work and efforts to sustain the pantry to the Chancellor..
  • Jonathan noted media promotion on NY1 helped generate interest from students for the pantry- more emails requesting appointments have been received.

• Discussion as to what role we as pantry volunteers play on campus during Covid 19
  • Amy and Ashlie shared experience of what “volunteering” at the pantry has been like and expressed concern for the mitigated risk of coming to campus when we are not able to actually interact with students.
  • Vice President Kerr is going to check in with public safety to clarify what we can do and what their expectations are.

• Ronni discussed the success of the gift cards program this semester.
  • $5000 in gift cards were given out in October to 49 students.
  • Ronni and Amawati will work together in November and December to continue to program.

• A faculty member from Lehman, Amanda Sizelamn (sp?) is doing a research project on food insecurity and was interested in talking to our students. Even with IRB approval, the committee has concerns with students' privacy and how they will feel if we are pressing the students for information.
  • Emily mentioned NY food bank requires personal information for access and since we are confidential this may be why students are more comfortable using our pantry.

• Students have a general reluctance with using our pantry and especially now that they have to make an “appointment”.
  • Asia mentioned that her fellow students have discussed their concern about privacy and being insecure about being food insecure. They were surprised to hear that they had to make an appointment.
• The committee discussed ways to reframe this so that students don’t feel the formality of an “appointment”. The word may make some students feel uncomfortable but it is important we have a gauge of when students will be coming to campus.
• CUNY Tuesday email went out asking for donations to campus.
  • Donors can choose to donate the $ to the food pantry.
  • Dee and Emily offered to donate $ to campus.
  • A representative from Ronni’s department comes to campus each week to check the mail for donations to go to the pantry.

• Feminine Hygiene products were donated through monetary donations from the committee and purchased by Amy (thanks Amy!)
  • Group discussion on ways to give these out to students. Since students are not allowed into the pantry, they cannot see them to access them. It would be a waste of resources to put them in all bags as there are some students who will not have use for them.
  • Will add on the pantry website that “we have feminine products, diapers and other items upon request” so that students who need them can ask about them in their email to the pantry.

• Final recap- Those with pantry shifts will maintain shifts until the end of the semester and then we will regroup and decide based on covid and campus policies, how to move forward during the winter and spring semester with volunteering.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ashlie Klepper
Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate, Secretary