1 In 5 UC Students Going Hungry, Survey Finds

BERKELEY (KCBS) – The University of California system is pledging more than $3 million to fight hunger on campus, as a new survey finds nearly 20 percent of students don't get enough to eat.

With all the jokes about instant noodles and the "Freshman 15," one may think food security wouldn't be an issue. But the survey of 9,000 UC students found nearly 1 in 5 goes hungry.

The survey also found 42 percent don't have a consistent source of nutritious food, a third of those in need say they have trouble studying because they're hungry and 25 percent said they had to choose between paying for food or books and housing.

UC is now giving all campuses an extra $150,000 to expand food pantries, design new student housing with kitchens and allow students with pre-paid meal plans to donate leftover meal points to those in need.

The findings mirror a California State University study that estimated one in four CSU students don't get enough to eat.