Somewhat related - when I was in college (2000-2004) a number of my peers applied for and received Food Stamps. We were attending a school that ran about $40,000/yr for room/board/all the necessaries. Very few of them came from familes other than middle/upper-middle/upper class families, but they felt bad asking their parents for even more assistance with school related costs, since most parents were already shelling out for tuition, rent, and other expenses. And since the Food Stamps were accessible, why not apply? The university food generally made every one sick anyway, and the food plans were stupid expensive compared to shopping at Walmart and other low-cost groceries.

It is disgusting how hobbled students are by crushing financial obligations related to, when it comes down to it, the passing on of knowledge from one generation to the next.

edit: grammar