COMMUNITY FEATURE PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER “We really use Rowdy Corner as a referral point to meet students where they are and get them the resources they need,” said Tim Carroll, senior director of public relations at MSU. “Our recent rebranding of the food pantry to Rowdy Corner helped remove the stigmatization, and students have really gotten behind the idea that this is a resource to help supplement their needs.” Rowdy Corner served roughly 1,800 students last spring, with their busiest week bringing in 853 people. The pantry is open year-round and partners with local vendors to source fresh produce and provide culturally diverse options. According to Jacob Marshall, Rowdy Corner manager and MSU student studying political science and GWS, the community and mission are what make it unique. “One of the main goals is removing the stigma of getting to use a food pantry and getting food access for free. All the employees are passionate about it. There are a lot of different jobs people get on campus and it feels like the people who PHOTO: TIM CAROLL, MSU DENVER typically get a job here have an interest in food justice or helping the community. Nobody is here to just get paychecks,” said Marshall. MSU also offers assistance for students in need of emergency housing assistance. Students can access housing resources by submitting a CARE referral to the Student Care Center (SCC), which covers all housing assistance needs. Once they submit their forms, students will be assigned a case manager to provide guidance and next steps, which may include emergency financial aid through the Student Emergency Retention Fund, which offers stipends to help students manage unexpected or severe life events that could interrupt educational progress. During the 2022-23 academic year, the SCC distributed over $660,000 in emergency funds, 80% of which supported housing instability of some kind, according to Kell. “Significant numbers of students are experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. However, our community-based resources are significantly underfunded and under-resourced, and many have waitlists that are weeks and months long for students who need urgent housing assistance,” said Kell. If you are interested in volunteering time or resources, or are a student interested in learning how to utilize the resources offered on the Auraria campus, contact UC Denver at lynxbasicneeds@ucdenver.edu, CCD at (303) 352-3205, and MSU at studentcarecenter@msudenver.edu. ■ COURTESY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER COURTESY OF CU DENVER COURTESY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER September 2024 DENVER VOICE 9
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