By Meghan Scaggs
Colorado State University preaches the slogan “Rams take care of Rams.” Despite seeing this tagline appear in a plethora of Joyce McConnell’s emails, it is prevalent that this phrase is simply a written statement, rather than an actual implementation of action. At the surface level, health problems at Colorado State University could be linked to a variety of issues, such as the lack of combating challenges regarding the coronavirus, inconsistent mental health resources, and more. However, upon further exploration, the main health issue at CSU is rooted in the food being consumed by students. As a Freshman at CSU, I was excited to indulge in the food atmosphere of Fort Collins, after all, a primary selling point is the diverse array of meals that occupy the radius of the city. I assumed the food menu at CSU would be reflective of the city’s varying local restaurants and cuisines, allowing for myself to attain a better and healthier lifestyle on campus. This was not the case at all.
For context, I come from a low socioeconomic background. I have one working parent, and ever since the coronavirus started, we have been struggling to maintain a healthy diet due to financial restrictions. Back at home, my family and I ate fast food regularly because it was the cheapest option. Colorado State University was a glimpse of hope that I clung onto for several months. CSU discusses their pride in the care they have for ALL students, regardless of one’s circumstance. This ideology they upheld seemed too good to be true… and it was.
I entered Colorado State University with a small number of meal swipes per week because it was the option that was barely affordable. I was unable to eat off of campus because I did not own a car and many restaurants were extremely pricey. Knowing this, I relied heavily on RamCash to get meals on campus. In case you are unaware of the places and dining options at Colorado State University, there are numerous dining options, such as the dining halls or the food located at the Lory Student Center (which is the main location that accepts RamCash). The dining halls in itself are a complete whirlwind of greasy, prepackaged, and unhealthy food, which could be expanded on in an entire paper. But, for my case, I am solely focusing on the Lory Student Center because it is my main source of food consumption as someone who does not have many meal swipes. The food at the Lory Student Center is not only unhealthy from a physical perspective, but it also presents issues that impact one’s mental health, overall targeting economically disadvantaged students.
Source: Colorado State University
The Food Desert of Fort Collins
Any CSU student knows that the Lory Student Center is the heart of campus. The building is immaculate with white floors and walls alongside vibrant accents of green to symbolize the school, as well as a multitude of lounge areas that radiate a sense of comfort. This intimate homestyle area is then juxtaposed to the business-oriented, heart disease, and depression catalyst of the Lory Student Center, or as some may call it the food court. This vicinity is engrossed by the large company fast-food chains, such as Freddy’s, Taco Bell, Panda Express, and Subway. The three other central areas to eat are the Ramskeller, the Fifty 30, and the Aspen Grille. The Ramskeller serves beer and pizza that drips grease through the plate, the Fifty 30 is a sandwich shop that costs a good sum of money, and the Aspen Grille (which does not accept RamCash) is one of the most expensive places to eat on campus. Out of all the food options at the Lory Student Center, the most healthy options are the most expensive, which has detrimental impacts on low-income students, like myself. The fast-food corporations are the only meals that are semi-affordable to students lacking financial stability on the entire CSU campus, even the dining hall food can cost more. Colorado State University has a micro food desert, or an area that has limited access to affordable and healthy food, on its campus that disproportionately impacts students from a low economic class.
Physical Health Consequences
The dominant effect fast food has on low-income students at the Lory Student Center can be seen with the physical health changes. According to www.eatthis.com, there are roughly 17 harmful side effects that are caused by fast food. These effects can include deteriorating skin, a decline in cognitive functioning, a higher risk of obesity and diabetes, tooth decay, higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and an increased risk of certain cancers and diseases. In conjunction to the subsequent study, Kim and Knesebeck conducted research in 2018 that concluded that lower income is associated with higher health risks in the United States. These health risks that low socioeconomic students face is then perpetuated by a lack of quality health care, thus causing no medical aid to be given to citizens with these health obstacles. The previous studies are applicable to Colorado State University students because their income has a direct relationship to their health risks, specifically because their only options for food are fast food at the Lory Student Center.
Source: Junk Food & Obesity
Impacts on Mental Health
The fast-food chains at the Lory Student Center also have a correlation to poor mental health. People that eat fast food are 51% more likely to develop depression as opposed to their counterparts that do not eat fast food. A lack of essential vitamins leads to irritability, depression, and anxiety for consumers in America. In addition to a lack of vitamins, sufficient consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which is not present in a majority of fast food meals, is a key component in a good mental health. A minimal consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has been proven to link directly to anxiety and depression. This issue is heightened for many low-income students not only due to the high consumption of cheap unhealthy food but because of the lack of education on these health risks.
Source:Fast Food is Interlinked with Depression
What Can CSU Do?
After further investigation on these issues, a solution that Colorado State University can implement would be providing cheap and healthy food options at the Lory Student Center. These options could include local businesses that have unintended benefits, such as helping with sustainability and economic growth for small corporations. According to Michigan State University, locally sourced food is not only healthier because of the rich nutrients, but it is healthier because there is less contamination, “food grown in distant locations has the potential for food safety issues at harvesting, washing, shipping, and distribution.” By providing cheap accessible food options, low-income students will be able to better both their physical and mental health while not having to worry about their financial stability.
From an economical standpoint, Colorado State University’s decision to have fast food in the Lory Student Centers stems from saving money. Typically, locally grown food is more expensive in order to compensate for the loss of money that large corporations take. For example, a local burger bar in Fort Collins, Stuft, has an average cost of $12.99 for a burger, whereas a fast-food chain like McDonalds has a Big Mac that only costs $5.99. By having fast-food restaurants in the Lory Student Center, Colorado State University saves half the money compared to establishing local restaurants. Despite these previously stated points to be a seemingly sound argument, there are many long-term issues that will occur due to a lack of local and healthy options. As stated before, big business fast-food chains create physical and mental health issues, especially for low-income students. In addition to the health consequences, many facets such as sustainability and the state economy will plummet. Furthermore, other universities, such as American University and Boston University, have implemented a dining system where roughly 36% of the food is sourced locally. In particular, American University’s meal plans cost similarly to Colorado State University’s, despite having more organic, healthy, and local options. American University’s meal plan for 11 meals a week is roughly $2,442, whereas Colorado State University’s meal plan for 10 meals a week is $2,457. This comparison demonstrates the ability of universities to maintain a fair price for food, while still supplying locally sourced products in the dining centers.
In order for Joyce McConnell’s saying “Rams take care of rams” to reign true, the health of students from all economic classes needs to be prioritized more, particularly within the food sector of the university. For many low-income students, fast food is the only option to eat on campus, thus causing more physical and mental health problems that are difficult to treat. If healthy and affordable local food locations were established in the Lory Student Center, these issues regarding health could be combatted for students at CSU, allowing an overall better lifestyle for students like myself.
About the Author
I am a first-year student at Colorado State University studying Social Work and Spanish. After college, I plan to be a social worker within a hospital setting and work with cancer patients. I have always been interested in Social Work because of the injustices I have seen within my community, I hope to combat these in the future and make a change that leads society towards equity and liberation. I was inspired to write this blog due to the socioeconomic justices prevalent within the food industry, in this case, the connection between low-income students and health issues.
References
American University. (2020). Meal Plan Information and Facts. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.american.edu/ocl/onecarddining/mealplan.cfm
Bhatnagar, S. (2017, September 24). Fast Food is Interlinked With Depression! – Infographic. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://graphicspedia.net/fast-food-is-interlinked-with-depression/
Brissette, C. (2018, March 06). Perspective | This is your body on fast food. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/sneaking-a-little-junk-food-doesn’t-mean-all-is-lost/2018/02/26/828b75fa-1b36-11e8-9de1-147dd2df 3829_story.html
CSU. (2020, September 22). Colorado State University. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://lsc.colostate.edu/
Food Empowerment Project. (2017). Food Deserts*. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://foodispower.org/access-health/food-deserts/
Kim, T., & Von dem Knesebeck, O. (2018, January 5). Income and obesity: What is the direction of the relationship? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5781054/
Rita Klavinski, M. (2018, September 20). 7 benefits of eating local foods. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/7_benefits_of_eating_local_foods
Science Daily. (2012, March 30). Link between fast food and depression confirmed. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330081352.htm
See, C. (2020, March 23). The Cost of Healthy Eating vs Unhealthy Eating. Retrieved November 06, 2020, from https://plutusfoundation.org/2020/healthy-eating-budget/
Sulaiman, S. (2017, May 23). 12 Universities Leading the Charge in Serving Locally-Sourced Food. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.ecowatch.com/12-universities-leading-the-charge-in-serving-locally-sourced-food-1882092100.html
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