The Open Seat food pantry, located in the UW Student Activity Center, provides food and hygiene products to students experiencing food insecurity. Open to all UW–Madison students without income verification, the pantry aims to remove barriers to basic needs so students can focus on academics instead of worrying about their next meal.
Now, the eight part-time student employees who operate the pantry are calling on Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor to fund a full-time, permanent staff position dedicated solely to pantry operations. Student organizers say the current model — in which students manage every aspect of a large-scale food distribution program — is no longer sustainable.
Founded in 2016, The Open Seat distributes produce, milk, eggs, canned goods and other staple items, along with hygiene products such as toothpaste and soap. The pantry also connects students with additional basic-needs resources across campus and in the broader Madison community.
Unlike many food assistance programs, The Open Seat does not require income verification or proof of need. All UW–Madison students are eligible to use the pantry. This open-access model reduces stigma and eliminates administrative barriers that can discourage students from seeking help, according to their campaign.
According to The Open Seat, the pantry distributes more than 32,000 pounds of food each month to over 2,500 students. The eight student employees oversee inventory management, volunteer coordination, financial tracking, emergency response and outreach efforts. They also coordinate donation drives and work to maintain consistent supply levels amid fluctuating demand.
Student staff members say the scale of the operation has outgrown its staffing structure. Running what amounts to a high-volume food distribution center while maintaining full course loads has led to missed classes, extended hours and constant on-call responsibilities.
A petition circulating across campus calls for the university to create a permanent, university-funded position with a competitive salary and benefits package, according to The Cap Times. Organizers argue that a full-time professional staff member would provide institutional continuity, oversee long-term planning and relieve students of administrative burdens that exceed the scope of a typical part-time role. Student employees are also requesting input in the hiring process, according to The Cap Times.
The university allocates funding to student organizations through segregated fees paid by students and distributed by the Associated Students of Madison. In addition to that funding stream, The Open Seat relies on food and monetary donations from campus partners and community members.
According to The Cap Times, the proposed staff position would cost less than an estimated $100,000 annually. The publication reported that UW–Madison’s overall budget exceeds $4.5 billion. Organizers argue that the cost of one professional staff position represents a small fraction of university spending and would provide long-term stability for a service that thousands of students rely on each month.
Open Seat representatives also point to peer institutions that employ one or more full-time staff members to manage campus food pantries. They say professional oversight can strengthen supply chain partnerships, expand grant opportunities and ensure consistent compliance with food safety standards — responsibilities that are difficult to sustain through student labor alone.
Food insecurity is not unique to UW–Madison. Nationally, between 19% and 56% of college students experience food insecurity, according to research published by the National Library of Medicine. Studies associate food insecurity with lower academic performance, higher stress levels and poorer sleep quality. Students experiencing hunger may work longer hours to cover living expenses, potentially limiting study time and campus engagement.
Hunger is not simply a personal hardship but an institutional barrier to higher education. When students must choose between paying rent and buying groceries, academic success becomes more difficult to attain. As the cost of housing and living expenses in Madison continues to rise, organizers say demand for campus food assistance is likely to increase.
Supporters of the campaign emphasize that their request is focused on sustainability, not expansion. The pantry is already serving thousands of students each month; the goal, they say, is to ensure that operations remain stable and that student employees can prioritize their academic responsibilities.
They also argue that relying entirely on student labor to maintain essential services creates instability. Student staff graduate, study abroad or reduce hours during high-demand academic periods, making long-term continuity challenging. A permanent staff member could preserve institutional knowledge and provide consistent leadership across academic years.
For many student employees, the issue is about balance. Campus jobs are intended to help students afford tuition and living expenses while maintaining their primary role as students. When job responsibilities expand to the point that academics suffer, the structure no longer aligns with the university’s stated commitment to student success.
In the meantime, students and community members can support The Open Seat in several ways. Organizers encourage students to sign the petition urging university leadership to fund the full-time position. The pantry also welcomes volunteers, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, when distribution volume is typically highest. Donations including food, monetary contributions and reusable shopping bags can help maintain supply levels.
Ultimately, organizers say institutional commitment will determine the pantry’s long-term stability. With thousands of students relying on the service each month, they argue that consistent professional staffing would help ensure that access to food remains dependable.
The Open Seat’s campaign underscores a broader question of how to address basic needs insecurity in a sustainable way. For student organizers, the answer begins with ensuring that those who keep the pantry running are not forced to choose between serving their peers and succeeding in their own education.
