By
Katie McVicker
May 22, 2009
Since holding a town hall-style meeting early last month in Kane Hall to promote bringing Tent City III to campus, students from the class Health Services 572 have been busy rallying support for their campaign. In the past two months, they passed a resolution of support through both ASUW and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS). Yesterday afternoon, their resolution passed nearly unanimously in the UW Faculty Senate.
Yesterday’s meeting was the third time the tent-city project had been presented to the Faculty Senate. Faculty Senate Chair David Lovell said that when the proposal was first mentioned, there were a number of concerns.
The senators wanted to know about the educational value of the project, the role the university police would play in the matter and Seattle University’s experience as a host to Tent City III in 2005. But when their questions were sufficiently answered, the senators became more open to the proposal.
“The motion is basically a recommendation to the president to do everything possible to make this happen,” Lovell said.
Abigail Pearl, a student in the health class, told the senate her class has discussed supervision with campus police, and if the tent-city residents are able to live on campus, patrols would likely be stationed in the area for at least the first two weeks.
Tent City III has had 35 hosts since it was established in 2000 and can house up to 100 residents. There are two tent cities operating in King County; they are not related to Nickelsville, which is a separate homeless camp that was set up in the U-District earlier this year.
Educationally, the class has suggested many ideas, including an interdisciplinary “health clinic” for tent-city residents that students could staff, and interdisciplinary seminars on the urban condition.
Faculty Senator Josephine Ensign, who submitted the proposal, said hosting the city would humble the university’s elitist image.
UW President Mark Emmert has the final say on whether or not Tent City III can come to the UW. The class plans to officially ask for his approval next week. In the meantime, students are working to strengthen the campaign’s presence on campus.
“Since the [town hall meeting], we have been in contact with different members of the administration and are working on forming a committee to bring Tent City III to UW,” said Noah Barclay-Derman, a student in the global health department. “We are also working on designing curriculum and course development to maximize the educational benefit in hosting [Tent City III].”
Additionally, the class has created a registered student organization (RSO) through ASUW, called Students for Civic Engagement on Homelessness, which allows them to receive school funding for events.
“The RSO was formed to make sure that we continue the momentum and don’t miss an amazing educational opportunity for service learning and civic engagement,” Barclay-Derman said.
The majority of feedback the class has received about its project has been positive and encouraging. Barclay-Derman said many students and faculty want to get involved and have given them great ideas on how to further engage the UW community.
Shannon Marsh, the senator who proposed the tent city resolution to GPSS, said it passed by a large margin.
“The senators in GPSS did an excellent job probing all angles of what UW hosting [Tent City III] would entail and ensuring that they were educated voters in representing their constituents,” she said. “UW has the opportunity to improve the lives of 100 people at very little cost and, moreover, provide a valuable educational experience to its students. A large portion of the people I’ve encountered who are against hosting [Tent City III] are often very misinformed about homelessness and the issues surrounding it.”
If the project is approved by Emmert, the class hopes to move the tent city to campus in the 2009-2010 academic year. The UW administration, faculty and students would work together to decide the exact move-in date and location for the residents.
Reach reporter Katie McVicker at news@dailyuw.com.
16 Comments
#1 Joe D.
on May 22, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
This is a taste of the real world: one of the activists for Tent City was a high school and college classmate of mine who's internet job imploded. Sometimes a degree is not enough-tent city has been his safe haven.
#2 Jeff T.
on May 22, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.(UW Campus)
As if violence around campus weren't great enough of a concern already, the powers that be are actually considering this? I'm not stone-hearted, I understand that these people are desperate. Desperate people will desperate things, though, including compromising the safety of UW students. This is one of the worst ideas I've heard.
#3 Andy M.
on May 22, 2009 at 2:51 p.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
I don't care how little this would supposedly cost the University (extra utilities, increased UWPD presence, grounds keeping, whatever), spending even one penny when we're having funding slashed and tuition skyrocketing is shockingly irresponsible.
#4 Andy B.
on May 23, 2009 at 12:41 a.m.(Sammamish, WA | UW Community)
For anybody interested, I have made a facebook group to organize the students who are opposed to this action. It is called, simply "UW Students Opposed to the Proposal to Host a Tent City on Campus"
#5 Nina B.
on May 23, 2009 at 2:48 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
What bothers me is how so many people I've heard complaining about Tent City know so little about it. Having volunteered with Tent City before, I know that a group of students would be welcome for a tour to see how their system works -- their screening process, their three strike system, their security checks (twice an hour, 24 hours a day), and their efficiency in moving. These people are normal people -- in today's economy if you're living one paycheck to paycheck, you're one away from being homeless. These people don't need your money or sympathy; they just need a space to stay -- but so many people feel uncomfortable around them. I'm not arguing that their fears are completely invalid; but get to know them before you judge them, elsewise we'll have a bipolar conflict on UW between "those who care" and "those who don't", and those things will be just labels, not necessarily telling of how someone actually is or not.
Furthermore, the increased crime around UW has rarely, if at all, been committed by a homeless person. Those who are homeless who do have mental or other issues are the byproduct of past state legislation that has dealt with under what parameters someone can be kept inside certain treatment institutions. If we won't help them, then they're just on the street. And in Seattle with the sorts of services we have for the homeless, obviously it will attract them -- hence the homeless population we do have.
Tent City is accustomed to moving; consider them the gypsies of our time, if you will. Unfortunately with some of the comments I've heard from people, who may or may not know much at all about them, that metaphor seems to be complete, including the discrimination.
#6 Jeff T.
on May 23, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.(UW Campus)
Nina -- I have no direct qualms about the people who live in Tent City. The problem is that people ARE kicked out. It's the people who use drugs and assault others who get kicked out, and where do you think they're going? You think they disappear? No, they hang around the U-District and harass other people. You can take me on as many tours of Tent City as you want, but come talk to me when you've been assaulted at the butt of a homeless person's firearm and had all of your possessions taken from you. This isn't discrimination, this is common sense. I have nothing against someone for being destitute or homeless. I'm not exactly rich myself. As I said, desperate people do desperate things. This is the last place we need a Tent City.
#7 Russ W.
on May 24, 2009 at 6:24 a.m.(Redmond, WA)
Allowing any non-student/staff/faculty member to be permitted to establish a residential presence at the UW should not be considered. The University is not a shelter.
Like Jeff, I'm not swimming in cash either. I don't live in the U-District because I don't consider the area safe at night as is. Unless Tent City's population consists of laid-off police officers, I don't how this proposal can possibly be good for the security situation, even if the residents themselves are as harmless as they are made out to be.
I just don't see how "getting in touch with the homeless community," as it were, is worth the risks and costs associated with this venture, which is being pursued by what is a very small number of students who, it appears, would have their own social sensibilities imposed upon the rest of us by administrative fiat.
If you want to work with the homeless... go volunteer or something--that's a perfectly honorable way of fulfilling the needs of your conscience. Foisting this enterprise upon the student body of UW is not.
#8 John V.
on May 24, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.(Tacoma, WA)
As someone who works odd hours on campus, I am used to wandering around an empty campus, and I rarely see security people unless I lock myself out.
If this tent city moves on campus, it will often be just me and the tent city residents (and their visitors, and others who would then feel less out of place than on the campus when it is empty). Or else someone will be paying for a lot of extra security people, which is hard to justify financially this year of cuts everywhere.
Also if someone wants to sign up for working with the homeless that's great, but please don't presume to plan for my edification.
I'd prefer to see the campus reserved for the use of people who work or study at the university, which I thought was the plan.
#9 Evan T.
on May 24, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.(Kirkland, WA | UW Community)
One of the bigger problems that has not been addressed yet either in the article about Tent city or in the comments are the details and extent of the project. There has been a number of locations that have been proposed for the exact location, but the decision will greatly affect the greater student population.
Any location on campus will greatly detract students from the vicinity of the specified area and the immediate vicinity around the area, and extended funds for education about tent city such that this 'poverty cleanliness problem' associated with the homeless will further put a drain on the budget. Without education, having such a program will be useless.
Any location on UW property in the vicinity will shift the perception potential students have of the campus' prestige and beauty to that of a negative effect.
Hosting the tent city is a great idea from a political and philanthropic perspective, but let's face it, without a lot of funds into educating the campus community, the community wants to do it without having to interact with it, which makes the project again, useless.
Also, there's much more important things in which the budget should go towards at this time. While true that this tent city project can add to the overall education of the community, at what expense to the students that aren't able to attend/services that are cut because of it?
#10 Sean K.
on May 24, 2009 at 6:07 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
Mr. Fact guy sent me a fax - Here's a quick rundown
"There is no claim, on behalf of Tent City supporters, that students will be impelled to assist, or even interact with Tent City.
You will not be required to participate in a host of opportunities to apply what you learn here in a real-world setting. You won't have to apply your skills in architecture, community health, social work, social justice, community advocacy and community outreach.
You will not be required to talk to them. You will not be required to listen to their stories. You don't have to ask them how their kids are.
You will not have to spend a single dime in either out-of-pocket cash or from your SAF fee to support Tent City.
You can, however:
Attend your classes.
Walk to classes rest assured that the University of Washington is a beautiful campus, still.
Eat pizza at the HUB.
Get drunk on the Ave. or on the Hill (or have someone buy you beer).
Stare at Facebook in Odegaard for hours on end.
Hook up and get laid.
Break up with your asshole boyfriend.
Graduate from the University of Washington entirely unmolested from your proximity to dirty, stinky poor people"
- Guy, Fact, "Facts about Tent City," Fact Journal 12, no. 1 (2009): 420.
#11 Sean K.
on May 25, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.(Seattle, WA | UW Community)
The fear the UW community has about crime is well founded. It is important to separate that from Tent City. The violence on the Ave., on campus and the community just north of campus is typically perpetrated by unemployed young males (gang-related or not)- not the demographic of Tent City, nor Nickelsville. The tenants of homeless communities are subject to that threat also.
#12 Adam D.
on May 27, 2009 at 10:47 a.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
<<you've been assaulted at the butt of a homeless person's firearm and had all of your possessions taken from you.>>
If someone has a gun and are stealing money, they are not homeless. Think about it; if you can afford a gun and steal people's valuables, you should have no problem finding a place to live.
#13 Adam D.
on May 27, 2009 at 10:49 a.m.(UW Campus | UW Community)
And as Sean mentioned, crime has little to no connection with the homeless. The homeless on the Ave (The Ave Rats) are not the ones committing the crime. Its been well known that gang violence is becoming a problem in Seattle, and the undermanned force of Seattle as a whole is causing the upscale of violence. Homeless rarely commit crimes.
#14 Jeff T.
on May 27, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.(UW Campus)
@Adam -- faulty-ass logic. Someone who will strong arm you for your possessions likely did not obtain their gun through legal or ethical means. And yes, it is ave rats committing crimes. I've had it happen to me and I've seen it happen to others. They even assault each other. Such is the case with Pub, an ave rat who got shot several weeks ago in the face by another ave rat. An ave rat who a) had a gun and b) was homeless.
#15 Adam D.
on May 28, 2009 at 12:09 a.m.(Kirkland, WA | UW Community)
<<faulty-ass logic. Someone who will strong arm you for your possessions likely did not obtain their gun through legal or ethical means.>>
It is very hard to steal a gun do to the inherent dangers of doing so. Furthermore, maintaining a gun is not cheap either. Not to mention someone who uses it steal on a regular basis is probably not going to be homeless as they probably aren't having income problems.
<<And yes, it is ave rats committing crimes.>>
Of course there are some of them probably committing crimes as any group; but stating they are the cause of the rise is ignorant. The Police will tell you its not the homeless is the problem; its gangs and a sudden upsearch of random male violence. From what I have read and been told, the Ave Rats are actually much smaller then they use to be.
<<I've had it happen to me and I've seen it happen to others.>>
How do you know they were homeless?
<<They even assault each other.>>
Once again, how do you know the people you are seeing are homeless? There are many violent disgusting people who have homes, but prefer to prowl the streets at night.
<<Such is the case with Pub, an ave rat who got shot several weeks ago in the face by another ave rat. An ave rat who a) had a gun and b) was homeless.>>
Isolated incidents don't point to an overall trend. Of course, commenting on the violence of the ave rats is irrelevant for Tent City discussion as Tent City residents are not the same people as the Ave Rats.
#16 James L.
on May 29, 2009 at 1:17 p.m.(Location Unknown)
You got to love the ignorance.
Did you all realize there are at least 3 homeless shelters within spitting distance of the UW? No, because they don't cause problems, they come in sleep and leave quietly the next day.
I've been working with the homeless for years now, and I've come to realize these people are just like me. The have the same hopes, dreams, and fears as me.
Funny how that works.
Tent Cities have rules for it's residents and those who don't comply are not only kicked out, but are escorted to the bus stop and watched as they leave the neighborhood. None are just left to cause problems. Those who don't leave quietly are escorted away by the police.
Like was said before, no money will be needed, just a safe place to stay. Tent City provides it's own security to protect the neighborhood. Each host has a contract with the Tent City and one of the standard clauses of the contracts is that if problems and lack of accountability arise in the camp, they will pack up and leave within 24 hours.
I for one believe that any time you spend with these folks is not only a learning experience, but will enrich your lives in ways you can even begin to imagine.
Minds and parachutes are alike in one way, they only work if they are open.
Just my two cents.
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