Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Minutes
The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 1.30-2.30 P.M. Student Union, Second Floor, Food Pantry Vestibule
Committee Members in Attendance:
Professor Jonathan Cornick (Steering Committee Liaison)
Professor Ashlee Klepper
Professor Christopher Roblodowski
Professor Jun Shin
Professor Emily Tai
Professor Amy Traver
Dr. Dorith Brodbar
Liaisons in Attendance:
Business:
The meeting was called to order at 1:35 PM
Professor Tai explained that Naomi Smart, from Center for an Urban Future, was unable to attend the meeting as originally scheduled due to a last-minute scheduling conflict; Professor Alves also was not able to be present because of a concurrent English Department meeting. Vice-President Kerr indicated that Ms. Weprin was attending a conference.
The meeting opened with a discussion of increasing pantry use: the spreadsheet created by Dr. Jun Shin recorded that the pantry had accommodated 161 visits during the month of September, 2019, and 285 visits during the month of October, 2019. Vice-President Kerr reviewed the status of past orders and indicated that he was hoping to expend remaining monies allocated by the Petrie Fund (approximately $11K), first. The Petrie Foundation also approved Queensborough’s funding for Emergency Grants, which assist students in extraordinary circumstances. The New York City Council also allocated one million dollars to the CUNY Community Colleges to address food insecurity among students, and the Single Stop Office has been assisting in the evaluation and identification of students eligible for grants of $400.00, placed on a student’s “Tigercard,” to enable the student to purchase food items at the Queensborough cafeteria. 128 students were identified as eligible based upon specific criteria relative to enrollment status, financial aid status, and number of dependents. Ms. Gonesh, the Director of Single Stop, has been handling outreach to these students.
Dr. Amy Traver reported on her continuing correspondence with the leadership of the College and University Food Bank Alliance regarding two key issues: Pantry supplies and data collection. Directors of the College and University Food Bank Alliance recommend that Food Pantries partner, if possible, with a Regional Food Bank, preferably affiliated with Feeding America. Food Bank partners can provide training, technical support, and often have partnerships established with Supermarket retailers. One set of programs, in which Panera Breads and Costco are partners, for example, allows pantries to have food that is a week from expiration. Professor Tai also mentioned in this context, that the pantry had been approached by Mr. Jonathan Goodwin of Misfits Markets which provides fruits and vegetables under similar circumstances. Vice-President Kerr indicated that both he and President Lynch had been impressed by the Community Garden that grows fresh vegetables at Kingsborough Community College during a recent campus meeting with Kingsborough’s president.
A lively discussion followed, through which the following points were noted:
- While it is not clear whether data collection regarding student identity would be appropriate at this stage, it might be useful to solicit data from students regarding interest in access to fresh breads or produce;
- The New York Sunworks/Greenhouse Project, introduced in New York City’s Public primary and secondary schools raises the question of whether Queensborough’s Greenhouse could support a similar project.
- The pros and cons of acquiring a refrigerator were discussed.
Action Items:
Vice-President Kerr suggested that Vice-President Faulkner be invited to a forthcoming meeting in order to discuss possible modifications to the contract between Queensborough and CUNY Food Vendors that might address issues of Food Insecurity on campus.
Members of the Committee agreed that outreach to the leadership of The Nest, the Food Pantry at Nassau Community College, should be made in order to invite them to a forthcoming meeting as well.
Vice-President Kerr indicated that the Food Pantry website would be updated so that students and members of the Queensborough Community who wished to refer students to the pantry could contract Professor Tai.
Members of the Committee were encouraged to attend and promote the “Fight Campus Hunger” Tournaments scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, at the RFK Gymnasium. President Lynch will be participating in the Basketball Tournament event that day.
Professor Tai is also hoping to invite Ms. Smart to the campus for a future meeting.
Outreach to the Department of Public Safety will be undertaken to facilitate access to the Food Pantry through the main entrance to the Student Union rather than the downstairs entrance.
Announcements:
Professor Tai informed the Committee that NYPIRG had made several in-kind contributions to the Food Pantry under the direction of this year’s NYPIRG Director, Ms. Claire Lynch.
A drive to collect food for the Food Pantry is also being organized by the Department of Foreign Languages.
Dr. Cornick shared information about a forthcoming screening of the film Hungry to Learn about Food Insecurity on Campus
Professor Tai reminded the Committee that Dr. Lana Zinger would be screening Forks over Knives at noon on Monday, November 11, at 11.45 PM, in RFK201, in an event co-sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa.
Professor Tai wishes to acknowledge the following individuals who donated to the Food Pantry in October and November, 2019, or assisted with unpacking food: Professor King Fung-Shelley; Ms. Billung Chen; Ms. Sandra Strauss; Dr. Paris Svoronos; Ms. Claire Lynch; Mr. Reynald Pierre-Charles.
The meeting was adjourned at 2.45 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Emily S. Tai
Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate, Secretary
