What Happened:
Bloomsburg Campus student, Jordan Freeland, has questions for the University about their allergy food hours. With such limited time to get non-contaminated gluten free foods, Freeland contacted CU President Bashar Hannah and spoke with the Community Government Association (CGA) about her concerns. CGA is looking to follow through with the University about food accessibility.
Why It Matters:
According to the CDC, 6.2% of American adults have food allergies. Many students are affected by the issue of obtaining food that they can consume without the risk of it being contaminated with one of their allergens.
Background:
Freeland voiced concerns to Hannah last year during one of his office hours and has worked to find a solution with the University for other gluten free students.
The Rest of the Story
“There isn’t any food to eat for allergy people for breakfast Monday through Friday…Commons is the only dedicated gluten free kitchen on campus (at) any other area on campus you can eat allergy friendly food, but it’s not guaranteed to be gluten free. There can be cross contamination.” stated Freeland last Thursday.
Last year, food services offered Freeland a temporary solution. “The Commons had someone that would meet with me on weekends or for breakfast and they would make me something in the back… it did take, like, ten to fifteen minutes, but they made it for me in the dedicated gluten free kitchen.”
With the Bloomsburg student population being as large as 3,500 students, the solution does not seem efficient for the masses. Freeland met with President Hannah in September to voice her concerns. He pointed her in the direction of Maria Bauman, CU’s Resident District Manager of Dining Services. After further questioning from Freeland, the Campus planned to refer those with allergies to a nutritionist. Freeland told The Voice this isn’t a solution, “…why would someone who has an allergy and has had an allergy for most of their life need a nutritionist to tell them what they can and can’t eat?”
“I met with the CGA…they asked me to meet with them later and we are going to discuss other options”. In an email to Freeland, Food Services, and Disability Services, CGA said they would like to meet with all three parties in the near future and see if they can assist in finding a solution.
