Although at times people camp out for fun, it is rarely the case in cities where thousands of underprivileged people are forced to sleep outside each night.

Armed with only cardboard boxes and trash bags, about 50 students through Habitat for Humanity will camp out tonight on the Quad to spread the word about homelessness worldwide.

‘It’s a simulation of homelessness to raise awareness of poverty in housing,’ said Jocelyn Smith, vice president of education at Syracuse University’s Habitat for Humanity.

During the day, Habitat students will hand out flyers on the Quad with facts about homelessness.

‘Twenty-five percent of the world lives in substandard housing, and the majority of people in poverty are children,’ said Smith, a sophomore public relations and international relations major. ‘Not too many people know this, but it’s important information.’

At 9 p.m., those participating in the campout, called Shantytown, will go to the Quad with their blankets and boxes to spend the night. The program was initially scheduled to begin at 7p.m. but was pushed back until 9 p.m. to accommodate those who wanted to go to the celebration in the Carrier Dome for the men’s basketball team.

One of those who will be staying over in Shantytown is Keelie Fitzgerald, a Habitat member and freshman psychology major.

‘In college, you live in a wealth bubble,’ Fitzgerald said. ‘And it’s good for organizations to do stuff that’s in-your-face.

“Yeah, we have exams or whatever, but there are people who go through way more hardships.’

The event is a part of Habifest, an event-filled week by Habitat for Humanity to make the public conscious of homelessness, of which Shantytown is the pinnacle. Earlier this week, Habitat students made presentations to classes, wore Habitat clothing and held an institutional racism forum. The week will conclude with a date auction at 6 p.m. Friday night in Grant Auditorium.

More than 500 campus chapters and about 10,000 students nationwide are participating in Habifest this week. Though events differ from campus to campus, all have the same goal in mind: raising awareness and funds to fight poverty.

The Syracuse Chapter, which has about 150 members, will use money raised this week to pay for its main project.

‘The big thing this year is that we’re sponsoring a house on Annetta Street,’ said V.J. Jayaraman, a senior psychology major. ‘It’s been a humongous undertaking, and we have had to raise all the money for it, which isn’t easy to do.’

Thus far, Habitat members are content with the week and have high expectations for tonight and tomorrow’s events.

‘We are sacrificing our time to spark the idea in other people’s minds to help make a difference,’ said Jacob Eastham, a sophomore graphic design major. ‘Homelessness is a big problem that we all need to fight.’

Published on April 9, 2003 at 12:00 pm