Joslyn Plaza usually pristine with its shimmering fountain flora and statuary has a different appearance this week: The concrete is quilted with various sleeping materials cardboard “shelters and a handful of tired-looking students loitering about the area. From Sunday to today, as part of Pepperdine’s Week of Hunger and Homelessness, students are camping out day-to-night in main campus’s central location.
Run by the International Justice Mission and the Pepperdine Volunteer Center, Pepperdine students hope to raise money for Malibu’s Standing On Stone (SOS), an organization centered on reaching out to the local homeless community. The prices of goods that can be used by the homeless population, such as sleeping bags, food, clothing and toiletries are posted, so contributors are aware of the impact of their donation.
We are a group of students hoping to express a small degree of solidarity in regards to the homeless senior Jazz Brice said, We are raising awareness for lack of a better word.”
Students are encouraged to sleep in Joslyn Plaza for as many nights as they wish during the designated week. As of Monday about 20 students had spent the night.
As much as the Week of Hunger and Homelessness aims to raise money volunteers also wish to promote awareness and present the reality of homelessness. The stark contrast between pristine Joslyn Plaza and the destitute-looking encampment is designed to grasp spectator awareness. The campout illustrates a more realistic depiction of the face of homelessness.
“A lot of this has to do with the rising demographic of homeless women and children and young adults Brice continued. To put a face to homelessness that is accurate is uncomfortable.”
Volunteers stressed that it is a learning experience for the participants as much as for the passerby.
“For students it’s an eye-opening experience added junior Caroline Mobley. If you stay out here for a night you will have some realizations.—‘this is cold. I‘m hungry.’ Students can empathize.”
Participants were also eager to stress that the homeless campout is a simulation not the reality of homelessness or a display of false altruism.
“People misinterpret what we are doing as trying to show off altruism Mobley said. We are trying to experience something outside of our comfort level.”
Participants are also propelled to this act of service by their Christian faith.
“It’s one of the truest expressions of faith and spirituality said participant Ian MacDonald. It is about not being a self-serving spiritual person but doing things that are actually engaged in the community and help others.”