On April 8, the Center for Psychological Studies’ Student Government Association and the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement hosted the fourth annual Oxfam America Hunger Banquet on the second floor of the Don Taft University Center.
About 30 students participated in the banquet, which included a meal that was not what most students expected. Students drew tickets that assigned them to one of three groups: first world, second world and third world. Each group was treated according to the status of the average person in each of those regions.
According to Allison Foster, director of the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, the goal of the event was to educate participants on the issue of hunger, in the U.S. and worldwide, through an informal setting.
Students who drew the highest social and economic status were seated at a fully set dining table and were served fresh vegetables and fruits, along with sodas. Students in the second world group had to retrieve rice, beans and beverages from a buffet. Students who drew the third world status had to sit on the floor and could only select bread and water from the buffet.
Following their experiences, many participants said they were grateful for their own economic fortunes.
“I was lucky to be placed in the first world,” said Sabrina Charles, junior biology major. “It opened my eyes to see that I’m very fortunate, with my family, friends and the school I go to.”
Augusta Jean, sophomore business administration major, said, “I honestly never thought of myself being high income, but I am glad that God provided me the mother that I have to be able to live a middle class life.”
Freshman biology major Gaby Teixeira was in the second world group and was surprised by the standards of that classification.
“I see now that I’m in the top 15 percent of people in the world, and I’m lucky to be in a university,” said Teixeira.
The banquet also included a talk with Rebecca Moses, spokesperson for LifeNet4Families. She discussed her work with the non-profit organization, which provides food to the hungry and homeless throughout Broward County.
Daphne Francis, first-year nursing student, was impressed by the event and LifeNet 4Families’ involvement.
“I like how interactive it is and it puts things in a different perspective,” she said. “I have always known that world hunger is an issue we deal with and it’s good to know that there are organizations that are getting the information out about this issue.”
After the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, few participants left with full stomachs, but Foster said that she is hopeful that all students gained a “greater understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and will hopefully be motivated to do something about it.”
