Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) and Golden Grizzlies Pantry are adapting in ways not seen before on campus.
Since the campus closure, student organizations here at Oakland have been working hard to navigate these unforeseen circumstances so they can still help those on campus.
OUSC President Marcus Johnson has been working endlessly with Oakland’s administration to ensure the needs of students here on campus are met. However, the situation hasn’t been an easy one for him.
“The biggest obstacle following the shutdown has been maintaining continuity for students while the situation keeps shifting. When the university loses a central space like the Oakland Center (OC), it affects everything from student engagement to access to basic resources, so a lot of our work has been focused on keeping things running without adding confusion or stress for students,” Johnson said.
OUSC and the administration are sending out information to students as new developments arise, and Johnson and his legislature are working hard to address the needs of the whole student body.
“In the days ahead, our focus is on stabilizing student-facing services and making sure no one falls through the cracks. That includes pushing out updated information as when we receive it, working with departments that were displaced by the shutdown and making sure our own operations remain accessible while the OC is in flux,” Johnson said.
While students are currently juggling this new situation of finals and campus accessibility, they also run the risk of facing financial struggles.
“Our other focus is going to be on pointing students toward resources they can utilize to ensure they are not unduly burdened financially. So far I’ve been directing anyone who asks me to apply for reimbursement through the Student Emergency Relief Fund out of the Dean of Student’s office to ensure that nobody faces any financial burdens due to circumstances beyond their control,” Johnson said.
For those who are still on campus, ensuring food security has been a top priority to OUSC and Oakland’s administration.
“I have been in consistent communication with the Student Affairs Division as well as the Office of Student Involvement to make sure that students who utilize our food pantry don’t experience interruptions,” Johnson said. “We’re also coordinating with Student Affairs to make sure that students know where food support is located and how to access it despite the building changes and decreased dining options.”
As advised by the university, Hillcrest Hall has been a major source for students who need to eat. But, for those who have been facing food insecurity, the Golden Grizzlies Pantry is still supplying free food and personal hygiene items.
Pantry manager Charlie Dimock has noticed a decline in students coming in to get food and other needs.
“So it was a little bit difficult not knowing if the OC was going to be open or not, and staff members, some of them, are at home right now, so they’re not able to come to their shifts. But overall, we’re handling it pretty well. We have seen a decline in attendance just because people don’t know that the OC is open. But we’re trying to use our social media as much as we can to kind of let students know that we are open and how they can have access,” Dimock said.
Supplies provided by the pantry go beyond campus grounds, as those who face insecurity even at home are free to take what they need.
“We have a lot of non-perishable food products that students would really like to have, especially over the winter break or the holiday break,” Dimock said. “So I’m hoping that students do come in here and utilize our services, even if they are coming in for the first time — that’s what we’re always looking for is new people — because we really want to help the OU community, and that’s what our mission is — is to reduce food insecurity on campus.”
Located in the Lake Superior room in the basement of the OC, the pantry has been facing obstacles due to the building’s closure. However, pantry accessibility is still open via its modified hours.
The OC is currently not open to regular, public use. However, students who are looking for the pantry are advised to enter through the northeast entrance of the building.
As Oakland is learning to adapt to this peculiar way of living and learning, OUSC and Golden Grizzlies Pantry are welcoming students and to voice their needs and concerns.
