CBS News
College students struggling with food insecurity turn to campus food pantries
As many as one out of every three college students in the U.S. is dealing with food insecurity, according to Temple University’s The Hope Center, and at the University of California, Davis, students line up daily for the school’s food pantry.
“Rent is unbelievably expensive,” senior Erin Cashin told CBS News. “It’s unfortunate that food and groceries and just basic needs costs are so gigantic”
Cashin showed up 90 minutes before the doors opened at the on-campus food pantry.
“I literally structure my class schedules around being able to come to the pantry,” she said.
The pantry is run by students, many of whom work there because they previously found help there themselves.
“It feels good to give back and know that I’m needed here,” said junior Kate Tobie, who knows from experience about the “anxious” feeling of not knowing where your next meal might come from.
Leslie Kemp, director of UC Davis’ Basic Needs Center, told CBS News she believes it’s important to offer items like fresh produce, some of which is grown on the student farm and donated to the pantry.
“A dollar today buys a third of the commodities that it bought when I was in school,” Kemp said.
And the problem of student food insecurity isn’t unique to UC Davis. There are now close to 800 food pantries on college campuses across the country, according to the nonprofit Trellis Company. A decade ago, there were just 80.
But UC Davis was one of the first to open its pantry. It was originally buried in a basement, but campus officials told CBS News they found that location actually increased the stigma for those most in need. The UC Davis pantry is now located in the heart of campus.
While the pantry isn’t intended for those with a meal plan or students who can afford groceries, it’s open to anyone with a student ID, no questions asked.
“If we’ve got 10 students coming in and three didn’t need it, I’m okay with that. As long as we get those seven who did need it,” Kemp said.
Cashin said the pantry helps lift a “huge” load off her shoulders and that if it weren’t available, “it would absolutely affect my academic performance. It would definitely affect mental health.”
But she’s careful to only take what she needs.
“I think that’s kind of what comes with a gift economy. Let me make sure I leave some behind for the next person,” she said.
CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.