Only a few boxes and blankets protected Creighton students on the lawn in front of the Kiewit Fitness Center last Thursday.
More than 100 students participated in the Grate Creighton Sleepout, which was organized to raise awareness and increase understanding of the hardships faced by the homeless community. The event was organized by Creighton’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta in partnership with Llegado de Compación as a part of Justice Through Solidarity Week.
Participants spent the night outside in an attempt to experience a typical night for a homeless person. They were sheltered by nothing but a few blankets and, in some cases, a cardboard box.
“I am here for the experience and to share this with all of my fellow students,” said Becky Davies, Arts & Sciences senior. “I think this could be powerful, and I am excited about how many people share this curiosity with me.”
The inspiration for this event came from the Grate American Sleepout, which is a similar experience held in universities across the nation.
Michael Kulig, social justice chair for Phi Delta Theta and co-coordinator for the event, first learned about this experience when his high school held a similar event.
When Creighton’s Justice and Peace Society contacted him about participating in Justice Through Solidarity week, he said he knew it would be a great opportunity to bring the experience to Creighton’s campus.
Arts & Sciences senior Anna Budinger and Arts & Sciences junior Rebecca Harvey, both members of Llegado de Compación, partnered with Kulig in coordinating the night.
“After [the Justice and Peace Society] contacted us about putting on an event for Justice Through Solidarity week, we were trying to figure out what we could do to build awareness [about this problem],” Budinger said. “Partnering with Phi Delta Theta for the sleepout sounded like a great idea.”
Students arrived as early as 4 p.m. Thursday to set up camp on the front lawn of the KFC. Some students brought large cardboard boxes of their own to shelter them from the night wind, while others bundled up and slept on top of a blanket.
“I think homeless people must be some of the strongest citizens in the world because I don’t know how anyone can go out every night and face the cold with how little they have,” Kulig said.
“There is a loneliness that comes with being homeless just because there are not many people who can relate to that experience.”
Tim Sully, director of development at the Siena/Francis House, came to speak to the students at 8 p.m. about the reality of the life in the homeless community.
After Sully spoke and led a short discussion, participants bundled up and got ready to face the night, many of them forming small groups to keep warm. Although not everyone stayed the entire night, many endured the cold until 7 a.m.
Despite the 40 degree temperature and cloudy skies, most students were pleased with the progress of the event. Participants spent the night socializing with other participants and came away with a positive attitude about their experience.
“Now we are all having fun,” said Darwin Raquel, Nursing sophomore. “But at 4 a.m. we will know why we are really here. We are here to get a new perspective on how thousands live every night.”
“For one night it is not that bad,” Nick Sullivan, Arts & Sciences sophomore, said. “It is bad for [those who deal with this] for a lifetime. It is easier for us to do it because we are here with friends; not everyone has that.”
Sully thanked all the students who came to the sleepout and reminded them of the seriousness of what they were doing.
He told them that more than 400 people sleep at the Siena/Francis House every night and, unlike the students, they could not go back to a warm dormitory and a hot breakfast after one cold night.