As an MSU employee, I recently received two interesting emails from the university.
The first announced the formation of a committee of administrators, faculty, and consultants to begin work on the university’s next five-year strategic plan (the current one ends in 2019). This document, when complete, will guide the university’s decisions related to “planning, budgeting, and assessment” for years to come.
The second email announced the opening of a new on-campus food pantry to serve “all students, staff, and instructors.” I had mixed feelings about this second message. First, I applaud the university for responding to student poverty and hunger. Given the cost of living in Bozeman, I'd imagine these issues are significant and widespread. And, on the one hand, I guess I’m also glad to hear that the university is aware that these same problems plague its staff and adjunct instructors. On the other hand, however, I am bitterly disappointed (though not at all surprised) that the university’s response to hunger and poverty affecting those on its payroll is to set up a weekly food pantry.
MSU should be ashamed to have reached the point where it anticipates that the full-time employees who make it possible for the university to function will need to rely on a food pantry (and/or a second job) in order to feed themselves and their families. So my suggestion for the new strategic plan: budget for a living wage so that you no longer expect your employees and their families to go hungry.
