Why Food Insecurity on Campus Is a Civil Rights Issue

Akshita Kasthuri
May 25
2 min read

When students are hungry, everything else becomes harder: concentrating, participating, even showing up. And yet, in too many schools and colleges, food insecurity is treated as a side issue or a personal problem, not a systemic failure.

But let’s be clear: access to food is not just about nutrition. It’s about equity, dignity, and the right to learn without being held back by hunger.

🍎 This Isn’t Just About Free Lunch

Food insecurity doesn’t always look like skipping meals. Sometimes it looks like:

Eating just enough to get by, but not enough to focus
Choosing between lunch and a ride home
Skipping meals quietly because asking for help feels embarrassing

For students in low-income communities, it’s even worse. Public schools in many districts don’t have universal meal programs, and even students who qualify for reduced lunch still face stigma or bureaucratic hurdles.

📉 What the Numbers Say

1 in 6 college students experience food insecurity
Many K–12 students skip meals due to affordability or inaccessibility
Students of color, first-gen students, and those from low-income households are most affected

These aren’t just stats. They’re signs of a system that fails to guarantee a basic need.

💥 Why This Is a Justice Issue

Hunger affects grades, attendance, and mental health.It limits how well students perform, and who even gets the chance to succeed.

When access to food depends on income or zip code, we’re not just talking about nutrition. We’re talking about civil rights.

🛠 What Needs to Change

Schools should adopt universal free meal programs
Colleges should expand food pantries, meal swipe banks, and emergency aid
Students should be included in decisions about how meals are distributed and funded

No one should have to prove they’re “struggling enough” to get basic support.