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Seattle Homeless Are Honorary College Students at SPU

February 23, 2012 @ 3:16 pm (Updated: 10:04 am - 2/24/12 )

tentcity
From left to right: Tracy Arant, (student) Audrey Riddle, Lisa Ewing, (student) Alex Mikulas. (97.3 KIRO FM Photo/Rachel Belle)

By Rachel Belle

Listen to Feature: Seattle's Homeless Are Honorary College Students

When Tent City, an organized, vagabond community of homeless people, sets up camp in a new neighborhood, they are often met by disproving neighbors.

But last month Tent City arrived at Seattle Pacific University to set up camp at Wallace Field. Tent City resident Tracy Arant couldn't believe the crowd she saw when they arrived.

"There was close to 200 SPU students that were here to help unload trucks. By 10:30 in the morning we had done what would have taken half a day to do. They were happy to be here, it wasn't like they were told to do it, they were volunteers. The spirit of the day was just positive. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced."

Since that day, Tracy has been blown away by the generosity, warmth and helpfulness SPU students have brought to their camp.

"They make us feel like real people. There was talk of some students who weren't real hip on us being here, but I couldn't tell you who they were because everybody has been so gracious. You're on the bus and they'll start a conversation with you. They come down all during the day and hang out. When you're used to be looked down on for being homeless, or people are leery of you or afraid of you because they think you're gonna rob them or kill them or something. These people, it seems like they really do understand that we're them, just in an unfortunate set of circumstances."

The 80 plus residents of Tent City have basically been adopted as honorary college students for their two month stay.

"They gave us student IDs and they put $10 on each ID for us so we can go to the student union and get a cup of coffee. Ten dollars might not sound like much, but when you multiply it by 80 people? That's a chunk of change."

Every Monday, a student comes down to tell them about the activities of the week that include full access to basketball games, book clubs, a knitting group and yoga classes.

"I went to the foot clinic, which was heavenly," says Lisa Ewing, another Tent City resident. "I got a foot massage and a pedicure! And offered coffee, cream or sugar. I mean, I felt spoiled. It was heavenly."

Lisa has been homeless for nine months, unable to pay for rent after her husband passed away and her elderly mother went into a nursing home. She has spoken at a couple of well-attended university forums, like "Women and Homelessness," and is working with the city to raise awareness about the realities of homelessness in King County.

"Being on a campus, where the students are educating and raising awareness to the issues, is contagious and exciting and I couldn't get more involved. I'm spending all my time doing this, and gratefully so. To give back, since I'm not working right now, I'm sort of in transition, I find myself being such an advocate for raising awareness, and dispelling stereotypes, about about homeless people."

Half way through our interview, two students showed up and Lisa gave one of them a big hug. She has become close with junior Audrey Riddle. Audrey was one of the students who pushed to get Tent City a place on the SPU campus.

"We can divide ourselves and say 'Oh, we're not the same.' Through [Tent City] tours and through forums and making a meal and sitting down and sharing, you realize that the residents of Tent City are just like us," Audrey says. "Learning from them. Being able to have our lives change and inspired through tearful stories and inspiring motivation to get involved and to advocate."

Students serve a hot meal every night, which is the first time in Tent City history that the residents have been guaranteed a nightly meal. Sociology student Alex Mikulas says his classmates are really eager to help out.

"I think the students at SPU are a unique bunch in that they have kind of an outlook on humanity that people really are equal and people are on the same playing field. We can look at people in Tent City and realize 'That looks just like my mom' and 'She grew up in the same place my mom did.' You see so many similarities between us."

"The best part is it's not like it's an act," Tracy says. "They're genuine, in everything they say and do. It's really cool. For what it's done for my spirit inside? Words won't explain."

The next forum, about what homeless people really need and want, is scheduled for March 7th. Learn more about Seattle Pacific University's involvement with Tent City here.

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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Take it up a notch!
    February 24, 2012 2:35 am
    It's time for SPU Students & Faculty to welcome these folks into their dorms, apartments, homes or lawns now. Keep the love flowing people! GO FALCONS!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Irish Rover wrote...
    I helped, but to no avail
    February 24, 2012 8:23 am
    years-ago, as a college student, I once tried to help a homeless man. He was about my age and I had great empathy for his circumstances and how he got there. The saying "there but for the grace of God go I" was clearly in my mind. I brought him into my home, fed him, and helped him look for work. He stayed in the apartment, ate the food, and watched TV. After my classes and part-time job, I would go to the work message bulletin board and write-down job announcements and bring them home for him. This went-on for weeks, and he didn't even try to go check-on or apply for any of them. I finally asked him to leave. I gave him enough money to go to a motel or get a bus ticket to home. A week later he comes back to my apartment saying he spent the money, and wanted more. By now, my empathy bank had run dry and I told him that if we wasn't willing to help himself, neither would I.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • littlefish wrote...
    Spoilt SPA Students
    February 24, 2012 9:20 am
    It is clear that many SPA students are in fact spoilt beyond belief. “… a foot clinic for a foot massage and pedicure.” Give me a break. And we wonder why education cost so much and why the graduates can’t get a job. Some administrator needs to be fired if they think that foot massages and pedicures have a place in higher education. I bet it doesn’t happen in China. Parents wake up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SPUdent wrote...
    Spoiled?
    February 24, 2012 12:33 pm
    We don't have a foot clinic for ourselves. It's a clinic we set up specifically for Tent City. They get a not fancy pedicure (think of something a little girl would give to her mom, not a salon) and then we give them a pair of new socks that the students have donated. Some people stay to knit or play games, drink some coffee, just have a conversation. If you'd like to get involved, feel free to visit SPU/Tent City's website: http://www.spu.edu/events/tent-city/get-involved.asp
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • littlefish wrote...
    Spoilt SPA Students
    February 24, 2012 9:20 am
    It is clear that many SPA students are in fact spoilt beyond belief. “… a foot clinic for a foot massage and pedicure.” Give me a break. And we wonder why education cost so much and why the graduates can’t get a job. Some administrator needs to be fired if they think that foot massages and pedicures have a place in higher education. I bet it doesn’t happen in China. Parents wake up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • littlefish wrote...
    Spoilt SPA Students
    February 24, 2012 9:26 am
    It is clear that many SPA students are in fact spoilt beyond belief. “… a foot clinic for a foot massage and pedicure.” Give me a break. And we wonder why education cost so much and why the graduates can’t get a job. Some administrator needs to be fired if they think that foot massages and pedicures have a place in higher education. I bet it doesn’t happen in China. Parents wake up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dark Jedi wrote...
    The Homeless are humans too
    February 24, 2012 11:57 am
    Some just do not have the support systems that the rest of us do. Some really do need a break so they can get up on their feet. It's hard to pick those people out from the lazy bums who have found a great way to prey on people's generosity.

    I understand what the students are doing and I think it's rather nice. BUT I really don't think making the homeless "Honorary college students" and issue them school ID's is a good idea.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • boomerworkingmom wrote...
    Who is paying the tuition?
    February 24, 2012 12:45 pm
    I don't have a child in SPU, but if I was paying their exorbitant tuition rates I wouldn't be happy about the school deciding to donate a portion of my tuition money to these people so they can have coffee and foot massages. Tuition is to pay for a students' education, not to provide a social safety net for homeless people. News flash to the soft-hearted students: these people are not like you. You are trying to better yourselves, while they are trying to take advantage of you so they don't have to better themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }