Students to rock it homeless style

Students from the Social Justice League are taking the concept of walking in another’s shoes to the next level.

Members of the club are participating in a simulation this week of what it is like to live without a home in what organizers call an effort to bring the realities of homelessness to the UA campus.

In addition, participants will be collecting canned goods, pillows, blankets and money for Casa Maria, a local homeless shelter and soup kitchen.

Participants will go without the luxuries that most students are accustomed to — no bed, shower, computer, cell phone, iPod and no meals other than what is donated through an arrangement with Dining Services.

“Dining Services is donating leftovers from various restaurants across campus for our meals, said sociology senior Hali Nurnberg. “We want to begin to feel the stresses that the homeless live on a daily basis.”

The experiment will take place throughout the week on the UA mall and in the Gittings gymnasium where approximately 30 students a day will participate.

“Any student can participate as long as we have enough food and t-shirts to go around,” said molecular and cellular biology senior Clark Alves.

Nurnberg got the idea for Tentropolis two years ago while participating in a National exchange program with Bridge Water State College in Massachusetts.

“I liked the idea because it takes participants out of their comfort zone and begins to expose them to the hardships of being homeless,” she said.

Tentropolis is one of three homeless simulations conducted by college students across the country. Students in Massachusetts and Vermont are simultaneously conducting the simulation and holding nightly discussions.

Nightly discussions will revolve around the participants’ experiences in Tentropolis as well as how college students can work to address the problem on a large scale.

“A lot of clubs and organizations show movies, we are trying to create an actual environment and then discuss our experiences,” said anthropology sophomore Merlynda Sol.

Two speakers a day from a variety of community centers, soup kitchens and shelters will talk about their own personal experiences working with the homeless. Members of the league said they hope the discussions will help to break down stereotypes and assumptions about the homeless community.

“A lot of people have this concept of a drunk bum, but a lot of people who are homeless have done everything right,” said Nurnberg. “The homeless have no political clout.”

Nurnberg said she talked to multiple people at the university who have been homeless.

“Its astonishing how many people at the university have homeless experience,” she said. “I talked to a student last year who had lived out of a car while attending the UA.”

Interdisciplinary sophomore Bethany Benedict said Tentropolis is her way of doing more to help.

“I remember seeing a particular homeless family several years ago. The mother had three kids and she was pregnant, it really bothered me,” she said.

With foreclosure rates at an all time high, more and more people will be getting homeless experience in Arizona this year whether they are part of a social experiment or not.

Participants in Tentropolis said they hope their simulation will help change the perspective that many students have about the homeless.

“This is my way of standing with the homeless,” Benedict said.

7 comments

Beth- a lucky one

Thu Nov 12 2009 12:26

I'd like to post a few comments so bear with me. I've read what others have said about homelessness and from a different perspective I personally have been homeless many years ago after I turned 18 I was still in high school right here in this town and I came home from school one Friday afternoon ready to do homework and other things that young people do on the weekends. That day changed my life I got home and found a suitcase on the step out front and a note telling me I wasn't welcomed at home. I did nothing wrong and did not deserve to be thrown out but guess what it happened. I didn't have money, just two changes of clothes a pair of tennis shoes, my hoodie, and the sundress I had worn t school that day.my school books for my classes. I ended up at a few shelters a few nights a month and had no way of getting a job or anything. I knew nothing of the world outside my neighborhood I learned fast to stay apart from others I learned to watch my back and to sleep light. When you become homeless your perceptions change in a hurry when you're alone all the time and have to spend your time walking about even when your tired going to a soup kitchen to get a meal. When you try to get some sleep somewhere you get woke up by cops who tell you you have to move on. It's not a nice experience especially when other people who aren't homeless decide to single you out and get their kicks with you. In response to someone's comment Not every homeless person is lazy and some do mind being called a bum. When you're on the street you do a lot of walking sometimes more than 8 miles a day, and that's just to get a meal or two. Some people like the children on the street what happened to them was beyond their doing. I treat all people with respect no matter what. Until that person gives me a reason not to. I was one of the lucky ones I was able to reverse the homelessness and hope. one day no one will have to live that. For those of you who have such venomous thoughts on this and think it is a waste of time. Shame on you I pray it never happens to you. If it did would you know where to to go who to speak to what things are available? Have you even taken the time to speak to a homeless person? Withhold judgment until you have even look into this with an open mind, and no misconceptions about this epidemic we all face, turning your back and ignoring it won't make it go away. It could happen to you. As for the police who deal with this my hat goes off to you for doing your job. To the Social Justice League thank you for at least trying to open closed eyes and minds. Maybe there are things that could be done next time to make it better, Sharing what things are available in the community for this problem making people aware of the problem. Maybe trips to a homeless shelter or other things like this.
Thank you for allowing me to add my comments.

Hali Nurnberg

Wed Nov 11 2009 12:53

To everyone - thank you for your comments and your willingness to think about this event and the greater issue in depth.

I do need to clarify:
The main goal is not to be homeless and we emphasize this to all the participants everyday.

Instead the main goal is to create a space where dialogue about this often ignored, but immensely important issue can be discussed.

Homelessness and the people who experience it is not uniform and cannot be generalized. There are many different reasons people become homeless including assault, violence, unemployment, foreclosure, eviction, etc. Unfortunately, as demonstrated in your comments, many people fail to see the underlying factors in these peoples lives. We also rarely see the runaway youth who has been victimized, the homeless student who chose tuition over rent this month, or the family who paid their rent on time but their landlord could not pay the mortgage.

As far as the simulation goes: since this is an on campus event and since we are a sanctioned club we are limited to the rules of the university and are liable for every participant. Therefore we do our best within these limitations to begin to experience what a life without luxury might be like and we fully realize that we do not have the worry of where to find food and shelter and we know that no matter what we can always go home to our comfortable beds and that is something we should all appreciate and value.

Dialogue about these issues is what Tentropolis was designed to create and you, by leaving these comments, have done just that. If you are still unsatisfied, I sincerely invite you to come and continue this dialogue in person. I will be more than happy to answer any questions about our funding, why we have marmot tents, our donation and volunteer efforts, etc.

Thank you again,
Hali Nurnberg

Your name

Tue Nov 10 2009 16:07

This is a complete waste of time and one of the dumbest ideas ever. First off, none of you morons in the Social Justice League have any idea of what it’s like to actually be homeless. Boo frickin hoo!!!! You have to give up your electronics and beds for a few days so you can say you understand. That’s a bunch of crap! Why don’t you spend your time making society better on campus. Tell everyone to give mommy and daddy’s land rovers and BMWs back and try acting like a decent person once in a while. The ME generation sucks and all of you are great examples of it. Stop thinking about yourselves for five minutes and realize there are other people in this community that should be recognized and appreciated…..like teachers and police…the true members of the community these days responsible for getting your butts to graduation day and keeping you safe in the process.

Secondly, if you have not noticed, the homeless people around the UA are mostly lazy bums…..not people down on their luck. So, if you intend on living like a UA bum I suggest you wake up in the morning, go take a shower at Bear Down Gym, beg for food at Circle K and the Student Union, then journey to the library with all your stinky clothes and blankets where you can find a lovely cubicle with your own computer where you can sit and look at porn all day stinking up the place. You know you have achieved true Bumship when UAPD arrives and gives you an exclusionary order.

Third, If you really want to live like a homeless person, get rid of the tents and scraps from Dining Services. That’s weak and pathetic. Go be a real homeless person and sleep in a shelter, park, or one of the many cozy washes south of campus. Safeway at Broadway/Kino serves up fresh throw away food in the back at 5pm sharp so eat up with all the other bums. Living in your nice tents at the Gym is hardly roughing it…….try the desert!!!! And if you find yourself in need of change for your 40 oz can of Steel Reserve, try the frat rat houses…there are empty beer cans everywhere. Good Luck!!!

homed

Tue Nov 10 2009 15:00

It is beyond me how anyone could claim to be sympathizing with homeless people by living in tents made by marmot or swissgear. And, of course, inside those tents are warm sleeping bags! You are also on the UA mall, a well-lit, often patrolled, SAFE environment. you are also UA students, and viewed as such (not only are you viewed as such, but you are making a point of letting people know who you are). You are without the stigma of a true homeless person. People don't see you as sad, smelly vagabonds, but as hypocritical hippies.

My next point is that you are taking up the cause of a group of people too lazy to take it up on their own. Are you familiar with the term "bum" as a synonym for homeless person? A bum is a person who lacks in motivation or care for any real cause. It is a person who could be described as lazy, half-assed at best, and a failure to contribute anything to society. And this is by choice. We live in a nation overrun by bleeding heart liberals like yourselves who make it possible for any homeless person, regardless of the reason for their situation, to get more help than they could ever need. This is a foolish cause taken up in an even more foolish manner.

wilbur

Tue Nov 10 2009 10:41

The ASUA funds a plethora of clubs and organizations around campus. The Daily Wildcat does not mention their funding. Therefore, why is it important here?

wondering

Tue Nov 10 2009 07:40

Why doesn't the Wildcat include information about how much funding the Social Justice kids received from ASUA to put this event on?

homeless

Tue Nov 10 2009 07:36

While it is true that most of America is about 3 paychecks away from being homeless... living in nice nylon tents is not anywhere close to the experience. Maybe if they lived in cardboard boxes?

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