Talk of the Town: Tent City
Brian McAvoy
ENGL 280 – Williams
Essay 2: Talk of the Town
26 October 2011
Social Justice League to Plan 5th Annual Tent City
If you have attended Bridgewater State University for more than a year, chances are around this time in the fall semester in the past you have seen a community of tents set up behind the Rondileau Campus Center. This is certainly an unusual sight, and it is intended to be so. This student organized event known as “Tent City” is presented by the Social Justice League and aims to help raise awareness among those who don’t really understand the severity of homelessness throughout the United States and the world. Homeless communities like this are real and exist in different nations throughout the globe.
The Social Justice League, or SJL, is a student run activism group on campus that aims to educate and promote social justice on a local, national, and international basis through student action. The group and members have focused their events in the past on issues such as genocide, fair trade and of course, homelessness.
Bridgewater State students are encouraged to set up tents behind the RCC over a five day period starting on November 14th and continuing through the 18th. Throughout the five day period, these tents will literally be the homes of many of the participants. The aim is to aggressively represent the issue of homelessness with an “in your face” type of display.
Students have mixed feelings about the event in general. With it being a part of a political, social group led by activists for change, it can stir up a little bit of debate. Sean C., a junior commuter, says, “I just think it’s impractical. Sleeping outside to raise awareness? They could just set up a table in the RCC and stop everyone as they pass by. I don’t know, I guess it’s more extreme but still.”
There will be guest speakers from local non-profit organizations everyday at 12:30 along with various donations in the Tent City area. Guest speakers will touch on real life, hard hitting issues that bring the severity of homelessness to the eyes of the Tent City participants and anyone who is willing to listen.
In addition to guest speakers, there will be group discussions every night involving faculty, staff, current students and alumni. These discussions will bring to light the painful realization of homelessness. The best solution to any problem starts with education on the subject, that is what the SJL and their members aim to accomplish.
Steve M., a senior commuter offers insight, “I don’t think anyone will show up to the discussions at night. Especially on nights where people usually go out. But people walking by the tents and stuff will see what’s going on, so I understand why they go out there.”
The event takes place in mid-November for good reason. In the colder part of autumn with the onset of winter right around the corner, make no mistake about it, the weather will be cold. Students can be seen sleeping in sleeping bags but also sporting winter clothing in order to keep warm. As Student Justice League treasurer and head of this year’s Tent City planning committee Kayla Harvey explains, “SJL has found that this simulation we do every year, because it is so "in your face," really helps to generate conversations about the issues of homelessness.” She hopes it will be eye opening to passersby and participants in general.
In 2009 most homeless people lived in some type of shelter, but nearly 4 in 10 were living on the street, in a car, or in another place not intended for human habitation. Many of these human habitations are communities of tents and synthetic material tarps that cover their “living area”, if you can call it that.
Harvey insists that, “Social Justice League and our participants in Tent City are not ‘trying to see what it's like to be homeless’, but rather the goal of Tent City is to educate students and the campus community about the reality that many poor and homeless Americans face everyday.”
There are donations throughout the week also. Items that are being collected are going towards drive for My Brother’s Keeper. This charitable organization is “A Massachusetts based Christian organization of volunteers who delivers furniture, household items and food, free of charge, to those who seek assistance.” Donation items for Tent City include: Soap, paper towels, toilet paper and shampoo/conditioner. These items seem trivial to the average student, but many homeless people don’t have access to them at all.
Katie T., a sophomore resident, after finding out about the donation responds, “I will definitely bring something by for a donation. I live so close so I don’t see why not. It’s a good thing to do and from what I understand it’s for a good cause. But I’m not going to sleep outside. No way.”
The Social Justice League is also in conjunction with Homelessness Taskforce, the Community Service Center, Circle K, AWARE, the Sociology Department, and Student Government Association. There is sure to be a great turn out and some very intelligent people on hand to teach you something you don’t know already.
For more information, contact Kayla Harvey at [email protected].
ENGL 280 – Williams
Essay 2: Talk of the Town
26 October 2011
Social Justice League to Plan 5th Annual Tent City
If you have attended Bridgewater State University for more than a year, chances are around this time in the fall semester in the past you have seen a community of tents set up behind the Rondileau Campus Center. This is certainly an unusual sight, and it is intended to be so. This student organized event known as “Tent City” is presented by the Social Justice League and aims to help raise awareness among those who don’t really understand the severity of homelessness throughout the United States and the world. Homeless communities like this are real and exist in different nations throughout the globe.
The Social Justice League, or SJL, is a student run activism group on campus that aims to educate and promote social justice on a local, national, and international basis through student action. The group and members have focused their events in the past on issues such as genocide, fair trade and of course, homelessness.
Bridgewater State students are encouraged to set up tents behind the RCC over a five day period starting on November 14th and continuing through the 18th. Throughout the five day period, these tents will literally be the homes of many of the participants. The aim is to aggressively represent the issue of homelessness with an “in your face” type of display.
Students have mixed feelings about the event in general. With it being a part of a political, social group led by activists for change, it can stir up a little bit of debate. Sean C., a junior commuter, says, “I just think it’s impractical. Sleeping outside to raise awareness? They could just set up a table in the RCC and stop everyone as they pass by. I don’t know, I guess it’s more extreme but still.”
There will be guest speakers from local non-profit organizations everyday at 12:30 along with various donations in the Tent City area. Guest speakers will touch on real life, hard hitting issues that bring the severity of homelessness to the eyes of the Tent City participants and anyone who is willing to listen.
In addition to guest speakers, there will be group discussions every night involving faculty, staff, current students and alumni. These discussions will bring to light the painful realization of homelessness. The best solution to any problem starts with education on the subject, that is what the SJL and their members aim to accomplish.
Steve M., a senior commuter offers insight, “I don’t think anyone will show up to the discussions at night. Especially on nights where people usually go out. But people walking by the tents and stuff will see what’s going on, so I understand why they go out there.”
The event takes place in mid-November for good reason. In the colder part of autumn with the onset of winter right around the corner, make no mistake about it, the weather will be cold. Students can be seen sleeping in sleeping bags but also sporting winter clothing in order to keep warm. As Student Justice League treasurer and head of this year’s Tent City planning committee Kayla Harvey explains, “SJL has found that this simulation we do every year, because it is so "in your face," really helps to generate conversations about the issues of homelessness.” She hopes it will be eye opening to passersby and participants in general.
In 2009 most homeless people lived in some type of shelter, but nearly 4 in 10 were living on the street, in a car, or in another place not intended for human habitation. Many of these human habitations are communities of tents and synthetic material tarps that cover their “living area”, if you can call it that.
Harvey insists that, “Social Justice League and our participants in Tent City are not ‘trying to see what it's like to be homeless’, but rather the goal of Tent City is to educate students and the campus community about the reality that many poor and homeless Americans face everyday.”
There are donations throughout the week also. Items that are being collected are going towards drive for My Brother’s Keeper. This charitable organization is “A Massachusetts based Christian organization of volunteers who delivers furniture, household items and food, free of charge, to those who seek assistance.” Donation items for Tent City include: Soap, paper towels, toilet paper and shampoo/conditioner. These items seem trivial to the average student, but many homeless people don’t have access to them at all.
Katie T., a sophomore resident, after finding out about the donation responds, “I will definitely bring something by for a donation. I live so close so I don’t see why not. It’s a good thing to do and from what I understand it’s for a good cause. But I’m not going to sleep outside. No way.”
The Social Justice League is also in conjunction with Homelessness Taskforce, the Community Service Center, Circle K, AWARE, the Sociology Department, and Student Government Association. There is sure to be a great turn out and some very intelligent people on hand to teach you something you don’t know already.
For more information, contact Kayla Harvey at [email protected].