Why Are Some Students At The Prestigious Stanford University Pretending To Be Jain?

Stanford University in California, United States, is making headlines. A student has alleged that some undergraduates are falsely pretending to be Jain to avoid the compulsory meal plan for the academic year 2025-26. The claim has spread widely on social media. Keep reading to know why this is happening.

Stanford University Students Pretending To Be Jain 

An essay published in The New York Times by Stanford University student Elsa Johnson claims that some undergraduates are pretending to follow the Jain faith. The reason is simple. They want to avoid paying the compulsory meal plan, which costs $7,944 (₹7,16,425 approx.) for the academic year 2025-26. According to The Times of India, Stanford requires all students living on campus to buy a mandatory meal plan. However, the university allows exemptions for students who follow religious diets that campus kitchens cannot accommodate.

You should know that a Jain diet has strict rules. No meat is allowed. No root vegetables are allowed either. But the question remains. Why would students pretend to be Jain? The answer is money. Instead of paying a large amount to the university, these students reportedly spend their funds at off-campus grocery stores like Whole Foods and restaurants. 

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Why Students Prefer Eating Outside Campus

It is also being claimed that students posing as Jain use this money at grocery stores or restaurants of their choice. Many students prefer eating off-campus rather than sticking to what the university provides. According to The Times of India, these claims are based on a student’s observations and conversations, not official university records.

According to MoneyControl, Stanford University has not issued any official statement on this allegation. Still, the issue has triggered heated discussions online. Meal plans at top US universities are expensive. Many students try to cut costs wherever possible. This is why some falsely claim a religion to eat cheaper food of their choice. At the same time, many people feel this is disrespectful towards the university.

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Netizens are divided. Some say universities must tighten checks to stop misuse of loopholes. Others say that compulsory meal plans are unfair and overpriced. What do you think of these allegations? Do you think this is fair? Share your views in the comments below.

Cover Image Courtesy: Stanford University, Wikipedia/ Mark Leschinsky and Canva Pro/ TrueCreatives (Representative Image)