The Continued Growth of Grassroots Movements for Social Change

Introduction 

    Grassroots movements are pivotal in driving social change at the local level as they harness community engagement, foster collective action, and influence policy reform. They play a crucial role in local activism by bringing community members together and encouraging participation, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are heard. Their rapid mobilization strategies can swiftly impact local policies and social structures, addressing pressing community issues effectively. The pressure from grassroots movements on local leaders aims to create a ripple effect, encouraging government officials to listen and address problems. This helps raise awareness and signals to the government that the public does not support the decisions being made in Washington. Grassroots movements are not a new phenomenon, but they are a bandwagon that individuals today are more than happy to join. As long-standing policies and laws are redacted in the United States and new controversial policies are signed into law, many individuals have posted their opinions online, called their local representatives, and have gathered with countless others on the steps of government buildings to make their outrage known. Large groups have assembled within hours to show solidarity for an issue that may directly affect them, someone they love, or the people in their community.

    Many are familiar with the Civil Rights Movement, which began as a small grassroots organization that led to significant change in the United States during the 1960s. Influential activists such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, and many others fought against segregation and discrimination, which led to successful changes in policies and laws, notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Grassroots movements have not stopped fighting for change even today, as they can see how a few individuals can ignite a fire that spreads until their voices are heard. While many were fighting for equality on American soil, Nelson Mandela was doing the same thousands of miles away in South Africa. He, with a group of like-minded individuals, knew they needed to stand up and fight if they wanted equality in a country that was not giving it to them. The Anti-Apartheid Movement started in South Africa in the 1940s and took until the 1960s before it picked up some real steam. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for instigating this movement, but continued fighting for his cause behind bars for 27 years. “I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities and a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise.” (Mandela, 95) When he was finally released, his small crusade had grown into a large movement that made permanent changes to laws and established a democratic government. In 1994, Nelson Mandela, after nearly five decades of relentless effort for change, became South Africa’s first black President.

Youth Empowerment: Uniting for Diverse Causes

    In today's political climate, the need for peaceful grassroots movements has been more urgent than ever, and many belonging to younger generations are heeding the call. 50501 is a grassroots movement that is utilizing the internet and social media to quickly assemble and mobilize thousands for their cause. They foster an all-inclusive, diverse environment with open dialogue where they promote non-violence, respect, understanding, and peaceful conflict resolution. They are an online grassroots movement that is organized by local volunteers in each of the 50 states. The idea came about when they wanted to hold protests in each state on the same day for the same cause, and so they took to social media to achieve this large goal. Within days, they were able to pull off 80 peaceful protests in all 50 states. This showed the organizers that there were people out there ready to protest when called upon for something they believed in. This particular grassroots movement does not just have one focus but many, as it collaborates with organizers all over the United States to mobilize individuals from all walks of life.

    Younger generations are joining and starting grassroots movements not only here in the United States but all over the world. They are eager to make changes as they are the ones who are to inherit this world. The way they have tackled this is somewhat different from Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, as they have technology on their side. Propaganda is now not plastered on lamp posts and billboards but on internet forums and social media sites. “Studies in Pakistan have shown that teaching youth the skills of peacebuilding in school results in more stable and tolerant communities in areas which experience political tension. There is perhaps something about the responsibility they have to the world that drives them, which brings about the connections needed to look beyond particularistic differences.” (Dragija) Youth movements are growing in Europe as they are seeing their countries torn apart by war. Many youth in Eastern European countries have seen their homes destroyed, their cities divided, and their ethnic identities questioned. Those living in what is now called Bosnia-Herzegovina used to be part of Yugoslavia and have seen their civil heritage and identity change many times. They know it is up to them to be a role model for youth in other places across the globe, to show them that they can be activists and reclaim their cultural heritage and repair damage done.

    In her article Merely Cultural, Judith Butler suggests that grassroots movements can gain strength and momentum by connecting and drawing from other movements. “Most promising are those moments in which one social movement comes to find its condition of possibility in another. Here, difference is not simply the external differences between movements, understood as that which differentiates them from one another, but, rather, the self-difference of movement itself, a constitutive rupture that makes movements possible on non-identitarian grounds, that installs a certain mobilizing conflict as the basis of politicization.” (Butler, 269) She believes that their differences, internal and external, are what make each movement unique. The internal differences, or constitutive rupture, make the movements possible, and since they are all made up of various conflicting elements, those are the pivotal forces that drive them forward. 50501 has seen this and uses it to bring smaller local grassroots movements together so that they can be more dynamic and multifaceted, with lots of diversity, as they all want change in the end. They have realized that combining their efforts, no matter the cause, increases their voice and presence for others to see and hear.

Local Movements: Navigating Power, Globalization, Technology, and Resistance

    Grassroots Postmodernism by Gustavo Esteva and Madhu Suri Prakash focuses on the importance of local movements. “The modern world can spread its economic tentacles only by destroying local cultures that keep the former outside their social margins. Critizing the resistance of the latter as the ignorance of the uneducated, globalizers warn and threaten that without the global economy, human rights cannot be universally enforced.” (Esteva & Prakash, 10) The modern global economy is seeking to expand its influence everywhere, and this comes at the cost of local cultures. Those who resist are often criticized and seen as ignorant and uneducated, and their resistance is an obstacle to progress. Globalizers argue that without a global economy, we cannot enforce human rights universally, and so economic integration is necessary to protect humans worldwide. The Zapatista movement that started in 1994 in Mexico is a perfect example of this, as it created tension between the forces of globalization and the desire to preserve local cultures. The Zapatista Army of National Liberation, an indigenous armed organization, declared war on the Mexican government in protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement and demanded better living conditions and rights for indigenous people. Their demands included better work, land, housing, food, health, and education, as they had been excluded from government decision-making and basic services. The conflict drew national attention, which helped them gain rights to self-government and autonomy. “By rooting themselves in their local spaces and weaving webs of solidarity with others like them, they are effectively applying the necessary antidote for the ‘Global Project:’ local autonomy.” (Esteva & Prakash, 41) The Zapatistas emphasized the importance of empowering local communities to take control of their own destinies, and they did this by finding others who were also marginalized. They found that if they united with other movements, as Judith Butler mentioned, it would give them the force necessary to continue onward. While the movement started as an armed rebellion, the Zapatistas transitioned to peaceful mobilizations and dialogue as they prioritized the preservation of indigenous cultures and traditions, ensuring that their movement was deeply rooted in the identity and heritage of the people they represented.

    Grassroots movements operate within complex networks of human and non-human actors, utilizing their collective agency to drive social and political change. Jane Bennett’s concept of vital materialism aligns with Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory by recognizing that all entities, whether human or non-human, have agency and can influence outcomes. “A lot happens to the concept of agency once nonhuman things are figured less as social constructions and more as actors, and once humans themselves are assessed not as autonomous but as vital materialities.” (Bennett, 20) Bennett argues here that nonhuman entities also have agency and should be recognized as such rather than just being passive or socially constructed. Both frameworks challenge traditional hierarchies and emphasize the dynamic interactions within networks. “Using a slogan from ANT, you have ‘to follow the actors themselves’, that is try to catch up with their often wild innovations in order to learn from them what the collective existence has become in their hands, which methods they have elaborated to make it fit together, which accounts best define the new associations that they have been forced to establish.” (Latour, 12) Grassroots movements often mobilize diverse actors, including people, technologies, and natural elements, to create change. As mentioned earlier, youth organizations in Pakistan are using technology to their advantage to rally individuals to their cause. 50501 and other grassroots movements in the United States are also utilizing technology to update individuals about events, new legislation, and ways they can be part of the solution. Both Jane Bennett and Bruno Latour highlight the concept of distributed agency, where power and influence are spread across a network rather than concentrated in a single entity. Grassroots movements exemplify this by distributing leadership and decision-making across the community and fostering collective action.

    “Where there is power, there is resistance, and yet, or rather consequently, this resistance is never in a position of exteriority to power.” (Foucault, 95) According to Foucault, power is not a static entity held by one group over another, but rather a dynamic and pervasive force present in all social relationships. Resistance, therefore, is not external to power but is an integral part of it. This relationship is crucial for understanding how power operates and how it can be challenged. Grassroots movements often challenge power structures by advocating for marginalized communities and pushing for systematic change. Foucault’s concept of the panopticon illustrates how surveillance is used to control and take away power from individuals. Instead of using physical force, one can use surveillance to monitor and control behavior to ensure conformity and order. Foucault argues that this type of surveillance extends beyond prisons into schools, hospitals, workplaces, and all other aspects of life. Social media platforms, search engines, and other online services collect vast amounts of data on users. This data is used to monitor behavior, preferences, and interactions, creating a digital panopticon where individuals are constantly observed. Closed-circuit television cameras are in public spaces outside on streets and inside malls, constantly dictating people's behavior. Many workplaces use surveillance tools to monitor employees’ activities, including computer usage, emails, and even physical movements within some offices. Devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and wearable technology often have built-in cameras and microphones that can be accessed remotely. Those devices track locations, record conversations, and monitor daily activities. National Security Agencies use advanced technologies to monitor the communications and activities of everyday citizens. This includes phone tapping, internet monitoring, and the use of drones for surveillance. These modern applications of the panopticon illustrate how surveillance has become an integral part of contemporary life, influencing behavior and maintaining control in various aspects of society. Grassroots movements can use this understanding to resist and counteract surveillance and control mechanisms imposed by authorities. Foucault posits that knowledge and power are deeply interconnected. Local grassroots movements can harness this relationship by rallying communities to assert their rights and establish alternative governance systems. By educating and empowering individuals, these movements use knowledge as a powerful tool to challenge prevailing narratives and advocate for transformative change.

Global Resistance: Diverse Causes and Mass Mobilization

    “Protestors filled the grounds of the Utah State Capitol Saturday afternoon for what organizers are calling the largest nationwide protest since the inauguration of President Donald Trump for his second term.” (Constantino) 50501 was one of 150 different organizations that sent out the call for “Hands Off” on April 5th, 2025. They were able to collaborate with Salt Lake Indivisible, which is a grassroots organization local to Utah, to get between 6,000 and 10,000 individuals to show up on the steps of the Capitol building that Saturday for a united cause. One protestor mentioned that “It’s not about left vs. right because we have more in common with each other than we do different.” Utah was not the only gathering place for protestors, as more than 1400 different rallies took place in all 50 states. Nearly 100,000 demonstrators gathered in multiple locations around Boston. Over 100 different protests and marches happened in Southern California with each amassing crowds of 5,000 or more. The rain didn’t stop protestors from crowding the streets in New York while they marched side by side with people they had never met but who were there for the same purpose, to be seen and heard. The messages at each of these rallies were all diverse and different, as participants are pushing back against the many plans and policies the Trump administration has been enacting since January 2025. Homemade signs at each of these rallies highlight the fear of Federal cuts to national parks, education, and veteran services, as well as signs supporting reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, social security benefits, immigrant rights, and opposing tariffs. Organizers for the widespread event have a single goal with three demands: “an end to the billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration; an end to slashing federal funds for Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs working people rely on; and an end to the attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other communities.” (Elassar) The spark that started on our soil here caught fire outside of the United States as well as protestors in Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, Lisbon, and London joined with homemade signs in support of the thousands taking to the streets all over America. While all of these groups could have gathered together individually for their causes, because they joined their causes together, they were able to make a larger impact nationwide and globally.

Conclusion

    The focus on multiple causes has mobilized millions to take to the streets and online forums, joining local grassroots movements and uniting as one. Judith Butler highlights that strength comes from connecting with and drawing from other movements. The 50501 movement is elevating this concept by incorporating all the diverse voices currently facing oppression, uniting them into a single and powerful entity to advocate for policy and social change. As Foucault noted, power can be challenged, and grassroots movements are adept at applying pressure on local leaders to engage the community and exert influence effectively. To fight for social change, we must utilize all available resources, tapping into both human and non-human actors to rapidly unite community members and demand our inherent rights. While technology can be used as a digital panopticon to demand conformity and order, grassroots movements can also use it to advocate for change. They can empower many to post on social media to assert their rights and to fight for the rights of those who are losing them daily. By weaving a web of solidarity online and in-person with those locally, nationally, and globally, grassroots movements can resist the changes happening around us and be powerful enough to stand up and demand to be seen. As movements work together with human and nonhuman actors, they become more powerful until they have spread so far and wide that they cannot be ignored anymore by those in power.

References:

50501 Movement. (n.d.). 50501 — 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement. 50501 Movement. https://www.fiftyfifty.one/

Bennett, J. (2010). Vibrant matter: A political ecology of things. Duke University Press.

Butler, J. (1997). Merely cultural. Social Text, 15(3-4),265-277. http.//doi.org/10.2307/466744

Constantino, M., & Reed, C. (2025, April 5.) Utahns join nationwide ‘Hands Off’ protest movement en masse. FOX 13 Utah. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/utahns-join-nationwide-hands-off-protest-movement-en-masse

Dragija, D. (2020). Promising Tomorrow: Exploring the Role of Youth Movements in Reconciliation and Conflict. Cadmus, 4(3),63-67. https:/doaj.org/article/680f70404b28467eb01da359da53c0cf

Elassar, A., Shelton, S., & Allen, M. (2025, April 5). ‘Hands Off!’ protesters rally against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/us/hands-off-protests-trump-musk/index.html

Esteva, G., & Prakash, M.S. (1998). Grassroots postmodernism: Remaking the soil of cultures. Zed Book.

Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The birth of the prison. Pantheon Books.

Latour, B. (2005) Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press. Mandela, N. (1995). Long walk to freedom. Abacus

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Sociology Class Reading Response Five

 This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response.

    The readings for this response are from Bruno Latour’s work, Reassembling the Social. In this text, Latour critiques the conventional understanding of society and the “social.” He argues that the term “social” has been misunderstood by social scientists. Instead, Latour suggests we view it as a dynamic process of assembling connections. Latour’s first source of uncertainty is the notion that groups are not predefined; rather, they are continuously forming through interactions. The second source of uncertainty is the idea that action is overtaken. Latour posits that actions are not merely the outcomes of individual intentions but are shaped by a network of diverse actors, both human and non-human. Recognizing and understanding these interactions challenges our traditional view of agency and highlights the complexity of social interactions. According to Actor-Network Theory, Latour outlines several steps for tracing associations. He advises researchers to prioritize local contexts before considering global perspectives, emphasizing the importance of following actors and their associations across different networks to understand their interactions and influences. Latour suggests that global phenomena can only be uncovered by compiling local information and identifying broader patterns. Keeping the social flat allows researchers to focus on connections and interactions between actors without assuming pre-existing social structures or hierarchies. By closely examining how associations are formed and maintained, rather than presuming stable social groups, researchers make a first move by shifting their focus from social explanations to tracing associations and connections between actors.

    Grassroots movements typically begin with small-scale protests and initiatives at the local level. However, they gain momentum through social media and other support, demonstrating how local actions can have a global impact. On Saturday, April 5th, 2025, millions of people across various cities in the United States took to the streets to protest against the current President. Support was strong in all 50 states, with local grassroots movements mobilizing individuals to participate in rallies nationwide. The wave of protests extended beyond the United States, as news agencies reported demonstrations in London, Berlin, Lisbon, Paris, and numerous other international locations. Grassroots movements are constantly formed and reformed through the interaction of various actors, human and non-human. These interactions create a dynamic network which is central to Bruno Latour's idea of the social being a process of assembling connections.

References:

Latour, B. (2005) Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press.

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Sociology Class Reading Response Four

 This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response.

    I read two different works about and by Jane Bennett for this module. In the first article, The Philosopher Who Believes in Living Things, the author discusses how Bennett believes that “stuff has agency. Inanimate matter is not inert. Everything is always doing something.” (pg. 6) In the book titled Vibrant Matter, written by Bennett, she further explores those concepts while also bringing in theories devised by other scholars. In her book, she quotes Bruno Latour, who devised the concept of Actor Network Theory (ANT). He believed that human and non-human entities, referred to as actors, form networks of relationships that shape and define social phenomena. “An agent is a source of action that can be either human or nonhuman; it is that which has efficacy, can do things, has sufficient coherence to make a difference, produce effects, alter the course of events. It is ‘any entity that modifies another entity in a trial,’ something whose ‘competence is deduced from [its] performance’ rather than posited in advance of the action.” (pg. viii) Bennett also introduces Thing-Power in her book as the “strange ability of ordinary, man-made items to exceed their status as objects and to manifest traces of independence or aliveness, constituting the outside of our own experience.” (pg. xvi)

    I decided to watch the optional video posted of Jane Bennett’s lecture titled Powers of the Hoard: Artistry and Agency in a World of Vibrant Matter. In this lecture, Bennett refers to her book and explains how finding one large men’s black plastic work glove, one dense mat of oak pollen, one unblemished dead rat, one white plastic bottle cap, and one smooth stick of wood made her stop in her tracks in Baltimore one day. She explains how those inanimate objects spoke to her that day, and that she was able to get a glimpse of what hoarders or artists see where others may see nothing. In her lecture, she describes hoarders as receiving an aesthetic call from their things and listening or talking to their belongings. She mentions that they notice too much about their items, whereas we may see just the items as themselves. This lecture was very interesting to me as I understand Bruno Latour’s ANT and how non-human items can work together with humans. I am a minimalist within my home and all other aspects of my life, and I am also an artist. The readings and videos for this module helped me to broaden my mind to see beyond my own opinions and to not judge a book, or a hoarder in this situation, too swiftly.

References:

Bennett, J. (2010). Vibrant matter: A political ecology of things. Duke University Press.

Latour, B. (2005) Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press. 

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Sociology Class Reading Response Three

 This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response.

    The readings for this module started with the first two chapters of Grassroots Postmodernism by Gustavo Esteva and Madhu Suri Prakash. Chapter 1 talks about minority groups being pushed out of their “old” spaces to be replaced with “modern” upgrades and that they “cannot be competitive in the world of social minorities, where competitiveness is the key to survival and domination.” (pg.4) They explain that it takes courage to retain and regenerate their culture despite the odds that are threatening to modernize and take over their lives and spaces. Chapter 2 of the book talks more about those inequalities and that the modern world has created an ideal that forces everyone to live in what is called a global village. Wendell Berry tells us to think globally but to start small by looking at the local levels first. “Since global forces can only achieve concrete existence at some local level, it is only there - at the local grassroots - that they can most effectively and wisely be opposed.” (pg.25) One example of grassroots-level resistance is the Zapatista Movement that began as a fight against Neoliberalism. As colonized people, they had three choices. They could either become good subjects by accepting the premises of the modern West without question; they could become bad subjects by always revolting against the parameters of the colonizing world; or they could become non-subjects by acting and thinking in ways far removed from those of the modern West.

    In our second reading, Discipline & Punish - the Birth of the Prison by Foucault, we read about a shift of power from the pre-modern to the post-modern state. Foucault believed that the most influential form of power was surveillance and that individuals could more easily be controlled that way. Those who controlled knowledge through surveillance also controlled power, and individuals would even turn to police themselves. Information is all around us, and the power it holds has become normalized. We willingly give sensitive information about ourselves to our banks, doctors, employers, and others because we know they have the power to keep us from receiving certain things if we don’t.

    The third reading by Judith Butler argues that cultural issues should not be secondary or less significant to economic issues when it comes to feminism or queer rights. Over the years, there have been many social movements to fight for minorities, and they should not all be lumped together as one as they are all unique and different. Race and class have always been prominent features in each of those social movements, and Butler highlights that sexuality/gender, while it is a different dynamic altogether, needs to be combined with race and class; it needs to be integrated to be analyzed correctly. Others may argue that adding sexuality/gender detracts from addressing economic inequalities, but Butler argues that they are all related as homophobia isn’t just a cultural attitude but an economic one as well. Butler believes that “the term ‘identity politics’ is used as a derogatory term for feminism, anti-racism, and anti-heterosexism.” (pg.39) Nancy Fraser, who writes a rebuttal to Butler’s words, states that identity politics should be looked at from a nuanced perspective and uses the phrase freely in her writings. While both scholars are equally passionate about feminism and queer rights, I believe that Judith Butler leans more towards the cultural side as they see the inequalities that have plagued that community for years. They also see the economic setbacks many face but they feel are not highlighted enough. Nancy Fraser states she agrees that both sides deserve equal consideration and validation and that injustice occurs when minorities are not recognized and treated as equals.

    I believe you cannot separate the cultural and material inequalities the queer community has faced and faces even still today. New bills are introduced into Congress even today to repeal laws that will limit rights for queer individuals that heterosexual individuals freely enjoy. These new and existing laws are policed by regular individuals through surveillance of their neighbors who feel it is within their rights to complain when they don’t like a book at their local library and would like it removed for its content. They can complain when they see an individual using the “wrong” bathroom on the UVU campus. They can file a lawsuit if their child is on a team with a trans individual. A hospital can stop a partner from being with their loved one because they are not legally their spouse, and so much more. Every time a new bill is introduced, many individuals write their representatives and line the steps of the capitol building to express their concern for these inequalities. Small grassroots movements such as these may seem like a drop in the bucket, but they put hope in the hearts of those who are affected daily by the laws passed. They show there are people out there willing to fight, even when it is sometimes not their fight. It hopefully ignites a fire that keeps spreading and lights other small fires so that the voices of those most affected by these harmful laws will not be forgotten, ignored, or swept under the rug.

References:

Butler, J. (1997). Merely cultural. Social Text, 15(3-4),265-277. http.//doi.org/10.2307/466744

Esteva, G., & Prakash, M.S. (1998). Grassroots postmodernism: Remaking the soil of cultures. Zed Book.

Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The birth of the prison. Pantheon Books.

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Housing and Food Insecurity on College Campuses

 ABSTRACT

    This study investigates the housing and food insecurities faced by college students, particularly at Utah Valley University, aiming to identify the extent of these issues, understand their impact on academic performance and overall well-being, and explore potential solutions. By examining the availability and affordability of housing and food resources, the research provides actionable insights for university administrators, policymakers, and community organizations. The findings highlight significant insecurities not only in Utah but across the country, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions. Comparative analysis of existing studies offers valuable insights into effective data collection methods and reveals consistent findings across different locations, underscoring the widespread nature of these challenges.

RESEARCH TOPIC

    I am studying and doing a deep dive into three major studies that have been done on housing and food insecurity on college campuses. One study is conducted in Upstate New York, and the other two in Utah. All three studies provide me with a lot of data that I can analyze and compare. I am looking at Utah Valley University (UVU) in particular as I work here as a full-time staff member and am also part of the student population. I added the study from New York, as I wanted to see if the food and housing insecurity among students was similar in a vastly different location. I also find news articles highlighting the food and housing insecurity faced by college students in Utah, and compare the information in those articles with the data in the studies. UVU has several programs to help students who are experiencing insecurities related to food and housing, and I want to see the extent of what is offered on campus to those students. The research questions I have in mind while analyzing the data are: How prevalent is housing and food insecurity among UVU students? What are the current resources available to UVU students? How affordable are these resources for UVU students? How often are these resources utilized by UVU students?

LITERATURE REVIEW

Healthy Minds Study - UVU

    Utah Valley University is conducting the Healthy Minds Study in the Fall of 2020, providing detailed statistics on mental health and related issues among college students. Among all the data, I find that food insecurity and housing insecurity are prevalent here at UVU. 30% of students report experiencing food insecurity, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. The national average is approximately 23% for undergraduate students and 12% for graduate students. 20% of students report experiencing housing insecurity, which includes difficulty in paying rent or utilities, or having to move frequently. The national average is about 48% of students experiencing some form of housing insecurity. These statistics highlight a significant challenge many students face in meeting their basic needs here at UVU. The study includes 1,400 randomly selected participants. Key demographics used are age, gender, race/ethnicity, academic level, and socioeconomic level, ensuring a very diverse group of participants.

Utahns Against Hunger

    This report highlights that a significant portion of college students in Utah experience food insecurity, which affects their academic performance, higher dropout rates, increased stress and mental health issues, and overall well-being. It includes demographic data that shows that food insecurity mainly affects those from low-income backgrounds, first-generation students, and students of color. The report also highlights several barriers that contribute to food insecurity, including the high cost of tuition, housing, and other living expenses, as well as limited access to affordable and nutritious food options. The report offers several recommendations to address food insecurity, such as increasing awareness of available resources, improving access to food assistance programs, and implementing campus-based solutions like food pantries and meal-sharing programs.

Role of Financial Strain - New York

    This study aims to examine how financial strain affects college students’ work hours, sleep quality, and mental health. It highlights the significant role of student employment hours in predicting mental well-being, especially for those under financial strain. It also emphasizes the need for interventions to address sleep and mental health issues among financially stressed students.

KUER article

    I found a newspaper article written and published in December 2024 that discusses the increased use of food pantries by students at Utah universities. Utah State College, the University of Utah, and Utah Valley University all report a rise in students accessing these resources. Food insecurity is growing among students, with more than 60% of students at Utah State’s Logan campus experiencing low or very low food security. Inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic contribute to this trend across Utah and other college campuses. Food pantries provide some relief by helping students avoid hunger and manage stress while attending class and dealing with other day-to-day worries.

KSL article

    I found another news article from December 2024 that discusses the growing need for food pantries on college campuses in Utah due to inflation. This article mentions that 30% of students are struggling to afford tuition, housing, and food. Community Action Service and the Food Bank partner with Utah Valley University to provide fresh produce and other food items for students, as they recognize the critical role these items play in students' overall well-being.

DISCUSSION

    Utah Valley University has several initiatives to address food and housing insecurity among its students. There is a food pantry located on campus that students can utilize once a week if they are enrolled in at least 3 credits. There is also a Grit Garden on campus where students can volunteer their time to learn about fresh vegetables and how to grow them at home. Every Friday, the vegetables harvested from the garden are given out for free to anyone on campus who needs them, along with other fresh food donated by Community Action Services. Students experiencing food insecurity can apply for SNAP, supplemental food assistance, to receive government help to afford nutritious and essential food. UVU CARE has employees who are trained to help students find more resources in the community if the ones available on campus are not enough. They are also experts in housing insecurity and have many resources available to guide students. The university has an emergency scholarship fund to help students facing unexpected financial hardships, including food and housing needs. UVU takes many steps to support students’ basic needs, ensuring they can focus on their education without the added stress of food and housing insecurity. In 2022, the CARE hub pantry served over 1,000 students and distributed more than 25,000 pounds of food, making a 13% increase from the previous year. They also received the NASPA Region V Innovative Program Award for outstanding support to students in 2023.

LIMITATIONS and FUTURE STUDY

    Most studies on food and housing insecurity rely on self-reporting, which can lead to flawed and incomplete data. Not having enough food or money for rent is a sensitive issue that many are reluctant to share. The sample size of the study at UVU is only 1,400 students, which is quite small given the current student population. Additionally, the studies I reviewed captured data at a single point in time, so they do not account for changes over time or the long-term impacts of food and housing insecurities.

CONCLUSION

    While UVU has made significant strides in providing resources for students on campus, many are unaware that these resources exist. Working in the Fulton Library, I frequently hear from students about their needs for food, mental health access, and other issues. I inform them about the various resources available on campus, and many are surprised to learn that UVU offers free food, cooking classes, a garden, and free counseling services. Despite these efforts, many resources at UVU remain underutilized. The administration needs to find ways to inform the student population that it is okay to use these resources, there is no stigma attached, and to spread the word about their availability.

REFERENCES:

Cragun, A. (2023). College food insecurity issue brief. Utahns Against Hunger. https://www.uah.org/reports-and-publications/college-food-insecurity-issue-brief

Eisenberg, D., Lipson, S. K., Heinze, J., Zhou, S., Talaski, A., & Patterson, A. (2020). Healthy Minds Study Fall 2020 Data Report. Utah Valley University. Retrieved from https://www.uvu.edu/studentcare/docs/healthy-minds-results-fall-2020.pdf

Johnson, B. (2024, December 27). College food pantries become a necessity after inflation. KSL NewsRadio. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://kslnewsradio.com/colleges-universities/utah-college-food-pantries/2167251/

Lipkin, M. (2024, December 24). Utah universities see more students making use of the campus food pantry. KUER. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://www.kuer.org/education/2024-12-24/utah-universities-see-more-students-making-use-of-the-campus-food-pantry

Olfert, M. D., Hagedorn-Hatfield, R. L., Houghtaling, B., Esquivel, M. K., Hood, L. B., MacNell, L., Soldavini, J., Berner, M., Savoie Roskos, M. R., Hingle, M. D., Mann, G. R., Waity, J. F., Knol, L. L., Walsh, J., Kern-Lyons, V., Paul, C., Pearson, K., Goetz, J. R., Spence, M., Anderson-Steeves, E., Wall-Bassett, E. D., Lillis, J. P., Kelly, E. B., Hege, A., Fontenot, M. C., & Coleman, P. (2021). Struggling with the basics: food and housing insecurity among college students across twenty-two colleges and universities. Journal of American College Health, 71(8), 2518-2529. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1978456

Salt Lake Chamber. (2023, December 4). UVU’s CARE Hub food access program receives seven-state regional student affairs award. Salt Lake Chamber. Retrieved from https://slchamber.com/uvu-care-hub-receives-award/

Utah Valley University. (n.d.). Student care. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://www.uvu.edu/studentcare/

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Sociology Class Reading Response Two

    This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response. 

   

    Most of the readings for this module are from Eddie Glaude, except one from John Dewey. They all flow together nicely and work as Eddie Glaude brings John Dewey and other scholars into his writings. The first article, “Towards a New Individualism” by John Dewey, focused on the changes we have seen in America from old individualism to a new individualism. He focused on a remaking of society that has been the driving power of America and the enthusiasm of a new generation. Dewey’s answer to the success of those thriving was education, and that the government should focus more on helping individuals attain education so they could help sustain and build up their communities. “In a Shade of Blue,” by Eddie Glaude, focused on the silence of race in the United States. He gives the example of Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved, where tragedy and evil are understood to be a part of the mortal exigencies of life. The reality of life and race have shaped this country in such a way that we would rather erase the past than confront it, thus making books like those written by Toni Morrison all the more powerful and important for future generations. We also read two chapters in “An Uncommon Faith,” also written by Eddie Glaude. In chapter 1, he talks about Pragmatism and African American Religion in general. He explains that a pragmatist will look for concrete facts, action, and power, but when it comes to religion, a pragmatist will usually question dogma as it is not evidence-based. He brings Dewey into his writings here as well as James Baldwin, Cornel West, and W.E.B. Du Bois, as they all have different views on pragmatism and African American religion. In chapter 3, Glaude talks about meliorism, piety, double consciousness, and Chastened Pragmatic Religious Naturalism, which fascinated me.

    The last two concepts above were presented originally by W.E.B. Du Bois, and Glaude believes that Du Bois provides a great point of view that is similar between John Dewey and James Baldwin and is thus worth talking about. I really liked both of them and think they can still be seen today in a lot of ways. Double consciousness is an internal conflict concept talked about by Du Bois in 1903. African Americans were rejected by American life, yet they had a strong desire to be included in it. This created huge psychological struggles in a culture that was dominated by oppression, humiliation, racism, and conversion to a white man's religion. Du Bois was aware of the divide between his world and the world around him and that it could be saved depending on the choices, actions, and efforts of individuals (meliorism). “The natural world is diseased, distorted, deformed, and not naturally but by human actions toward black people”. Du Bois knew that the black man had always been controlled by others and that his destiny and identity had never been his own. “The world we inhabit can be saved, the hell black folks catch can be undone if we only act (without guarantee of satisfactory outcomes).” I think this entire concept can be tied back to the first article by John Dewey, “Towards a New Individualism,” as he believes that education can be a strong indicator of control and power in your community for change. We need to make sure every generation, no matter your race or status, is educated on the past, including the tragedies and evils of slavery that existed in America, as this will create a more informed, empathetic, and cultured future society for all.

Sources:

Dewey, J (1930). Individualism Old and New. Minton, Balch & Company.

Glaude, E. S., Jr. (2018). An Uncommon faith: A pragmatic approach to the study of African American religion. University of Georgia Press.

Glaude, E. S., Jr. (2007). In a Shade of blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America. University of Chicago Press.

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Sociology Class Reading Response

    This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response.

    For our first module, we read Chapters 1, 2, and 4 of Age of Fracture by Daniel T. Rogers. Here is my reading response:

    Age of Fracture by Daniel T. Rodgers explains the different shifts in intellectual life during the late 20th Century. Chapter One talks about a shift from collectivism to individualism, the "me decade". This chapter also focused on changes in presidential speeches, especially Reagan, as he emphasized personal responsibility and a reduced role for the government, as seen in his first inaugural address in 1981. Reagan’s communication style and ability to connect with the people evoked emotions throughout his speeches, by which he could influence public opinion in ways no previous president ever had. Chapter Two focuses more on the shift from Keynesian economics to market-oriented and supply-side economics. Instead of letting the government intervene and manage everything, deregulation happened, a reduction in taxes, and there were more individual decision-making powers. Chapter Four talks about the shift in social and political thought when it comes to race and identity. Race was now seen as a social construct rather than a fixed biological category, and scholars emphasized the role that all cultures play in shaping social realities. During the late 20th Century, marginalized groups began to assert their identities and demand recognition and rights while intellectuals and activists such as Martin Luther King Jr, Alex Haley, W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, Jesse Jackson, Toni Morrison, Cornel West, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, and many others, influenced and reshaped the discourse around race and identity for years to come.

    As I was reading chapter four, many of the names of intellectuals and activists were very familiar to me. I am an avid reader, especially when it comes to biographies, memoirs, non-fiction, or historical fiction. The names of Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, and James Baldwin were all familiar because I have read their books as they are now banned. You may be familiar with some of the titles as they used to be required reading in school some time ago. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Roots, Beloved, The Bluest Eyes, Go Tell It to the Mountain, and The Color Purple are just some of the titles that you may have heard of. Many of these books are critical as they talk about slavery and the violence that occurred that caused significant historical trauma that should not be forgotten or swept under the rug. The powerful storytelling in each of these works is what makes them masterful and deserving of a place amongst other great authors. Banning books limits our access to diverse cultures, histories, and viewpoints, which is essential for fostering empathy and tolerance. Many of the banned books today reflect the period in which they were written, so banning them essentially erases important parts of history that need to be talked about, remembered, and not forgotten.


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