Stanford students ‘pose as Jains’ to avoid Rs 7 lakh mandatory meal plan, viral essay claims

Stanford has not publicly responded to the specific claims made in the essay.

An opinion essay written by a Stanford University undergraduate has prompted online discussion after alleging that some students falsely claim adherence to Jainism in order to avoid the institution’s mandatory meal plan, which costs $7,944 (Rs 7,17,587 approximately) for the 2025–26 academic year.

The essay, authored by Sebastian Connolly and published in The New York Times, describes what the writer characterises as a broader culture of optimisation on campus, in which students exchange information on how to navigate or bypass university systems. Among the examples cited, Connolly wrote that he was aware of students who identify as Jain in order to qualify for religious dietary exemptions, despite not practising the faith.

“Let’s stop pretending this doesn’t happen,” Connolly wrote, stating that some students he knows claim Jain identity to opt out of Stanford’s dining requirements. He added that these students then use their food allowances at off-campus grocery outlets such as Whole Foods, which they perceive as offering fresher or more appealing options than campus dining halls.

The essay does not cite official figures, disciplinary records, or institutional data. Instead, Connolly made clear that his claims were based on personal observation and conversations with fellow students rather than documented cases reviewed by the university.

Stanford requires most undergraduates living on campus to enroll in a university meal plan. The university’s policies allow exemptions for religious or medical reasons when dietary needs cannot reasonably be accommodated by campus kitchens. However, Stanford does not publicly disclose how many students seek religious dietary exemptions, how such requests are assessed, or whether instances of misuse are formally investigated.

Jainism is a religion with long-established dietary principles rooted in non-violence towards all living beings. Practising Jains typically follow a strict vegetarian diet and avoid meat, fish and eggs. Many adherents also exclude root vegetables such as onions, garlic, potatoes and carrots, as harvesting these crops can destroy the entire plant and harm organisms in the soil.

Students at Stanford are pretending to be Jains so they can spend their meal plan money at Whole Foods instead of the school cafeteria: pic.twitter.com/C8kDQmJiO3

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) February 2, 2026

Because of these restrictions, universities in the United States, including Stanford, often recognise Jain dietary requirements as grounds for accommodation when institutional food services are unable to meet them. In such cases, students may be permitted to opt out of standard meal plans, according to a report in The Times of India. 

Connolly’s essay has circulated widely on social media, prompting debate beyond Stanford’s campus. "Wait a sec, $7k for, what, 7 months of meals? I can feed a family of 4 for less than that for a full year," a user wrote.

Another user commented, "That price is absurd. when I went to college the meal plan was so cheap (and the food was unlimited) that i considered re-enrolling with just one course per semester so i could still eat there when i felt like it."

"That’s not true or fair. Indian students at Stanford do that out of valid concerns - many of them don’t want to eat food that may be in contact with beef which is a religious anathema to us. That’s why Whole Foods is a safer option. In many cases among Indians, the label Jain can also signify dietary preferences where onion & garlic is avoided," a user remarked.

Meanwhile, Stanford has not publicly responded to the specific claims made in the essay.