Letter to the editor

11/04/11

Dear Editor,
According to the editorial “One ‘homeless’ or ‘comfortable’ night?” published on Oct. 28, the “concept of One Homeless Night” was minimized “by poor execution.”  The only way it can be perceived as ineffectively implemented would be if the purpose of One Homeless Night was misunderstood. One Homeless Night strives to accomplish two things:  1) Raise awareness about homelessness, and 2) Raise funds for Synergy Services.

The purpose was not to be homeless, but to raise awareness. This year there were 30 students who participated in the event with 20 of them making it through the entire night on the Quad.  Last year, there were three students who participated in a more “realistic” version of One Homeless Night.  This year was successful because there were 30 people who now have a greater understanding of what it means to be homeless.

The editorial also has some recommendations for how One Homeless Night could be more “informational, beneficial, and uncomfortable.”   All of these recommendations were taken into consideration before One Homeless Night was executed.   We know that it would be more realistic if people did not eat before or after, did not go back to shower, went without electronics and slept in fewer layers; however, people would not participate if that were the case.  If 30 of the approximate 1,100 students on campus participated with a “box-decorating contest and showing” of “some heartfelt cinema,” how many would participate without these things?

Aaron Denney and I, co-directors of Skip-A-Meal, are happy about how One Homeless Night turned out. We are thrilled to have had 30 participants (a 1000 percent increase over last year) and enough faculty sponsors for every student. We want to thank Jill Powers for taking the time to understand the idea and goal of One Homeless Night before writing her article. I would also recommend that before the “editorial staff” writes their next joint article that they would take the time to research their “facts” and have one of them participate in One Homeless Night before making the bold claim that it was unrealistic and poorly executed.

Sincerely,
Kendall Stewart, sophomore