During the week of January 9‑16 students found what it was like t be hungry. Mr. Harvey Kelber's problems of democracy classes conducted a welfare project. Those who wanted to tried to live on $6.03 a week. This was to include all food eaten during the week. This is the amount the Cook County Department of Public Aid said was to be allotted to the age group between 13‑20 for welfare.

In the project those who volunteered used $6.03 of their own money and tried to live on it for a week. Those who wanted to could involve their whole families in the project. Students who participated were required to make a list of their meals, their approximate cost, and their reflections of each day on welfare. At the end of the week they were to sum up their reactions to the diet and hand it in. No grade was given on this project.

Mr. Kelber said his main purpose was to help his students see for themselves the effects hunger had on their school work, concentration, and over‑all disposition while they were on a welfare diet.

Joni McManus, senior, "Yes, I made it through the week on the welfare diet, but just barely. In the beginning I didn't budget, and I used half the money the first three days. Then I went on a ridiculous diet to cut down expenses. I'm used to an affluent type of diet, and I couldn't buy the things I wanted to with only $6.03.

"It was pretty hard at school seeing hamburgers, fries, and all the other good foods when I was not able to eat them because of my budget. If I really had to be on welfare, I would even steal to try to feed myself."

Grant Pick, senior: "The most difficult part for me was figuring on what I was going to eat. I found whenever I was hungry. I had to do something to take my mind off food. It proved to me that Illinois is not giving enough money to the people on welfare."

Bill Beam, senior: "I tried to make the diet work. I really wanted to lose weight because I'm on the wrestling team anyway . By the time it came to the experiment I was very hungry and found it impossible to stay on the budget of the money