The elimination of a student government budget line item will remove $20,000 in funding for the Pitchfork Pantry organization, according to budget documentation.
Graduate Student Government officers said GSG was required to remove a line item in its recently approved 2025-26 budget providing an individual grant to Pitchfork Pantry, a student-led food pantry.
Budget documents and GSG officers said Pitchfork Pantry remains able to apply for funding through appropriations if it operates as a graduate student organization.
Except it can't. Maureen McCoy, the group's faculty adviser and a professor of nutrition in the College of Health Solutions, said in a written statement that Pitchfork Pantry is not currently a graduate student organization, but rather an undergraduate student organization, which would make the group ineligible for such funding. It is also not listed as a graduate group in Sun Devil Central.
"We haven't been a grad student club in the past, but we are looking into it as we serve many grad students and would be interested in any additional monetary support that could offer," McCoy said in a written statement.
McCoy declined to comment further on the budgetary change.
GSG President Bhagvan Reddy Vemula, a graduate student studying information technology and management of technology, said in a written statement that the change was made to comply with Arizona Board of Regents policy.
"GSG is working diligently to remain in full compliance with all policies while supporting student organizations," Reddy Vemula stated.
Reddy Vemula said the organization is ineligible for funding as a nonprofit under ABOR Policy 5-202, which prohibits associated student bodies at universities from funding "outside business activities."
Pitchfork Pantry exists as both a student organization and a nonprofit, McCoy said.
Reddy Vemula could not comment on whether the funding was improperly appropriated in the past.
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Difficulties and miscommunications about account types previously prevented the disbursement of the GSG allocation for Pitchfork Pantry. Because the organization is partially maintained by the ASU Foundation, Educational Outreach and Student Services has said Pitchfork Pantry cannot accept some transfers from student organizations.
Following a Nov. 21 GSG Assembly meeting, where the budget proposal was voted on, Assembly Speaker Cole Cloyd, a doctoral student studying religious studies, said he personally supports the pantry. However, GSG must abide by rules governing its own funding procedures.
"All the information we were given is that Pitchfork Pantry needs to apply for GSO (graduate student organization) funding, and that's how they can get the money," Cloyd said.
During the November meeting, Speaker Pro Tempore John Fredericks, a doctoral student studying educational policy and evaluation, said GSG was only told the $20,000 for Pitchfork Pantry had to be removed.
"We have to get rid of that line," Fredericks said. "If we don't get rid of the line, we just lose the money, is my understanding."
The $20,000 was added to GSG's funding for graduate student organizations, according to a budget document.
Pitchfork Pantry can continue to operate on campus in its capacity as a student organization, a spokesperson for the University said. In its capacity as a nonprofit, it must follow other policies for outside business entities.
The spokesperson also said the ASU Foundation continues to maintain an account for Pitchfork Pantry to receive donations.
The spokesperson provided other avenues of support students can take to help alleviate food insecurity.
"Our approach goes beyond pantries to connecting students directly with resources, such as employment opportunities, scholarships, emergency funds, immediate access to food in our on-campus dining venues, or other benefits," the spokesperson said in a written statement.
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Nikki Fordey, an Assembly member and a law student, criticized the change, which they called "an enormous road block in getting food to students."
Even if Pitchfork Pantry were eligible for graduate student organization funding, Fordey said the process would not make sense due to the unique needs of a food pantry.
At the November meeting, Fordey highlighted the limitations of the current funding requirements, which cap operations funding at $500 and provide greater support to events.
"I don't see how the graduate student organization funding, as we have it, fits what Pitchfork Pantry would be using that money for," Fordey said.
They said University officials are using their authority to shut down activities they disagree with.
"ASU administration does not believe that graduate students are struggling in poverty regardless of the statistics and stories they've been presented," Fordey said. "I fault no one in current GSG student leadership for the budget changes — they are being told they have no choice but to accept admin's demands."
Edited by Jack McCarthy, Senna James, Katrina Michalak and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at coyer1@asu.edu and follow @carstenoyer on X.
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Carsten Oyer is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, as well as public service and public policy. This is his second semester with The State Press, having previously worked as a politics reporter.
