Email this story to a friend!

Printable Version

Additional Resources
Archive of Press          Releases
AC Profiles
AC Magazine

Worcester Area
     News & Events

AC Calendar of Events

Assumption Goes Hungry

Worcester, MA (November 15, 2006) - On Tuesday, November 14, 200 students and staff members from Assumption College experienced the reality of hunger that millions of people around the world face on a daily basis as the OXFAM America Hunger Banquet was held in Hagan Campus Center.

This event featured a different format from most social issue awareness events on campus. When each participant entered the room they were handed an index card. The color of their index card indicated what group (high, middle, or low-income) the participant would be in for the evening, as well as a profile of a typical person in that group.

The size of the groups were proportional to the population of the world—meaning only a handful of high–income individuals (15 percent) would be in the room. Twenty-five percent of the participants were middle class representatives but a majority of the room fell in the low-income group (60 percent).

"The goals of the event were to provide a better understanding of an unequal distribution of wealth around the world, and an understanding for own privilege and what it means to be on the top of that distribution,” said Carleen Roy-Butler, director of the Reach Out Center. “I hope this event gave students a better appreciation of what it means to be without,” added Caitlin Fitzpatrick '07.

Dinner was served in a style comparable with the income group of each participant. Those in the high-income group were served a substantial meal at a table by waiters. The middle-income group was allowed to sit in chairs and was served buffet style with a basic meal of rice and beans, with women at the back of the line. Those in the low-income group served themselves on the floor with only a small scoop of cold rice and some water. This event truly opened the eyes of all participants. From sharing a fork with three people to begging for food to even stealing, the event had a strong impact.

“I like this experience. It's very humbling,” said Michael Valalik '08 during the dinner portion of the event. After dinner, the participants were able to reflect on their experience. Laura Beaulieu '09 noted that she had stolen chicken and ate it with her bare hands. “ It's difficult to imagine families living on just $9,000 a year,” said Erin Sheehan ’08. Danielle St. Martin ’07 commented that she now “has some idea of what it feels like to be hungry.”