The Effects of a Government Shutdown

By Skyline Reporter, Viviana Sanchez

ALPINE- For 43 days, Salisa was in survival mode. Each morning, she had to make a calculated decision. How far could she go on her tank of gas, and what could she afford? Trips home to El Paso stopped entirely in order to conserve gas. Groceries became frozen food, sandwiches, and bulk items that would stretch as long as possible.

The past government shutdown lasted 43 days, the longest recorded in US history. This left people all across the country wondering what would happen to the programs and salaries they depended on to live.

For Salisa W., a student who recently moved to Alpine, who asked that her full name not be used, the shutdown arrived at a moment when she could least afford uncertainty.

Living on her own, she supports herself through a part-time job at the Museum of the Big Bend archives department. Salisa depends on SNAP benefits and help from her military family to get by each month. When the government froze all assistance offers and military salaries, Salisa felt her whole world slip from underneath her.

“Honestly, it was heavy,” she said. “So many things rely on the money we get from the government through my dad’s job and my SNAP. I’d only had SNAP for a month when the shutdown happened. I remember thinking, Should I eat today, or should I save that money for gas? I didn't know what to do.”

A grant that was supposed to keep her position funded was not renewed, leaving her without a job and income. Her SNAP benefits, which provided her about $300 a month for food, suddenly felt precarious.

“Sul Ross was already being attacked for being a (Hispanic Serving Institution),” Salisa said. “We were under financial stress just for existing. Then the shutdown happened, and it was the icing on top of my stressed-out sundae.”

In moments like these, students may turn to on-campus resources to help them.

According to Katy Williams, the Director of Civic Engagement and Student Assistance, the food pantry is growing but has limited space and fresh produce.

● Last year, 374 students visited the food pantry for a total of 954 times.

● On average, students visited 2.5 times a year, though 36% visited much more frequently. Fresh produce availability depends heavily on the West Texas Food Bank’s seasonal offerings.

● The Lobo Pantry partners with the West Texas Food Bank. Last year, the fresh produce pod was offered every other month. “We also just haven’t been able to order as frequently, which limits what we have coming in. There are a lot of factors often out of our control that impact our ability to offer produce as frequently as we would like.”

“Food security is a growing concern for college students across the country. We also live in a county that experiences a higher rate of food insecurity, plus we have limitations to access to certain foods and higher food costs here in Alpine,” Williams said.

The Lobo pantry is striving to achieve new goals for the future. “We also really want a kitchen on campus, which would allow us to better support students in between breaks, provide students access to an alternative option to cook their own food, and teach cooking classes.”

Salisa believes there’s still a bigger conversation to be had. When asked about what she wished lawmakers understood about her situation, Salisa didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts.

“I wish I could tell them not to forget that their decision, however small they may seem to them, affects people's entire world,” she said. “Especially students who are just starting. Politicians are tearing it down as we're trying to claw our way up. So, I would tell them to, you know, it sounds a bit cliché, but think of the little people. Students are the future of the world.”

The shutdown may be over, and SNAP benefits are now being distributed, but senses of uncertainty and fear remain.

Under a GOP package, SNAP enrollees will have to work, volunteer, or train for a job for at least 80 hours to be eligible to receive benefits. If they do not meet the 80-hour requirements, they will receive benefits for three months out of every three years.

“I’m grateful I have support,” Salisa said. “But if I’m struggling, then other students are definitely struggling too.”

Lobo Pantry Information

Location: Ferguson Hall 108

Contact Information:
lobo.pantry@sulross.edu
(432)837-8596