Donate
  • About
  • Rent College Pads
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
Search
News
Opinions
Sports
Classifieds
Comics
BMA
Events
Subscribe

Friday, March 31, 2023
Print Archive

Eastern Echo
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
  • Search
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Comics
  • Podcast
  • BMA
  • Events
  • Classifieds
Search

Subscribe to the Echo

Donate to The Echo

You can support the Echo by donating through the EMU Foundation and selecting to apply your gift to a specific fund. Any of the funds listed below will provide support to the Echo.

01049 -- EMU Echo Editor Endowed Scholarship:  Provides financial support for the current EMU Echo Editor.

02414 -- Scott Stephenson Eastern Echo Scholarship:  This expendable scholarship is for the benefit of student(s) in the School of Communication, Media & Theater Arts in the College of Arts & Sciences.  It will be awarded to a full or part-time junior or senior EMU student majoring in journalism and working for the Eastern Echo.  The student should be working to self-finance their education and not be eligible for need-based grants.

00825 -- Student Media Development:  Provides support for the Student Media program.

Thank you for supporting the Echo and EMU Student Media.

Give Now


12/11/2019, 6:05pm

EMU Campus Sleep Out raises awareness about homelessness

EMU's Social Work class 350 partnership their community project with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County

By Bianca Ramsey

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

On Nov. 21, Eastern Michigan University held the first annual Campus Sleep Out located in front of the university's Department of Public Safety. The Campus Sleep-out was a part of the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week from Nov. 16 to Nov. 24 of 2019 sponsored by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County. The main focus of the Campus Sleep Out was to raise awareness among EMU students and the Ypsilanti community about homelessness.

Throughout the event, EMU students were able to listen to different guest speakers and enjoy snacks such as hot cocoa and chips. As the night progressed, students were able to interact with one another and even have the chance to experience being without shelter for one night. The Campus Sleep Out provided tents to participants.

EMU students Kirsten Seely and Chocolate Brooks are majoring in social work and helped organize the Campus Sleep Out. Both of them expressed the influence they hope the event has on EMU students and Washtenaw County as a whole. 

“[The goal of this event is] to be able to make awareness for the homeless, especially in Washtenaw County, and make sure people understand the true meaning behind the homeless. [It's] not always the stereotype of the homeless sleeping outside: [there are] different ways people can be affected by homelessness,” Seely said.

“Also, we want people to be more open to prompt open discussions amongst each other,” Brooks added.

Stigma around homelessness is still present. According to AnnArborShelter.org, over 1,700 single adults experience homelessness in Washtenaw County. 

“Housing is our main goal. I feel like we’re housing solution specialists. We help the hardest people to get a house. We help returning citizens, like people with disability, mental, physical illness.” said Sarah Paspal-Jasinski, guest speaker and Director of Development for the Ann Arbor Shelter. "Our whole goal is to house everyone .”

John Wilkerson, a guest speaker and EMU student majoring in social work, discussed his involvement with the Campus Sleep Out and his experience being homeless. As Wilkerson shared his experiences with being homeless, he was able to focus on positive aspects of life. One of Wilkerson’s goals is to graduate with a degree in social work and later help the veteran community. EMU Social workers Students have to complete over 400 hours for field placement. Wilkerson recounted when he was able to go back into the same homeless shelter he spent time in during his own homelessness.

“[It was] very surreal, going back into the place where I stayed,” said Wilkerson.

Wilkerson spoke on some of the stigmas surrounding homeless people.

“People look at [homeless people] like they’re bums, and they don’t want to work and lazy. [People] don’t realize maybe the reason the person might be homeless is that they have health issues and they couldn’t work.” Wilkerson said.

To learn more about the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, visit their website: annarborshelter.org

Share



Related Stories

The Eastern Echo Podcast Logo Fall 2019

Who are the Ombuds?

By Bianca Ramsey and Kylie Gilligan

Podcast Event Recap: "An Evening with Dominique Jackson"

By Bianca Ramsey

Echo Logo

Wellness Series - Part 2: Physical Wellness

By Ronia-Isabel Cabansag


The Eastern Echo welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.


Most Popular


3/25/2023, 12:05pm

Weeklong concert series Funky Rivertown Fest debuting at Riverside Arts Center

By Layla McMurtrie / Editor-in-Chief

Local musician and recording studio owner David Roof hopes to bring unique original music to the community.


3/25/2023, 10:23am

Meet the candidates running for EMU Student Senate


3/29/2023, 8:00am

Women in art at EMU: Professor Amy Sacksteder


3/27/2023, 8:00am

Meet EMU Student Government Election Commissioner Terrill Oatman


Podcast


3/2/2023, 11:36am

TheBlockE Podcast: Episode 12 - MAC Tournament Controversy


2/18/2023, 4:41pm

TheBlockE Podcast: Episode 11 - WHAT'S GOING ON?!


2/12/2023, 2:39pm

Echo Interviews: Kings of Color President Dylan Hughey discusses Black History Month


2/12/2023, 2:32pm

The Block E Podcast: Super Bowl Sunday


Tweets by TheEasternEcho
Eastern Michigan Echo To Homepage
  • About
  • Jobs
  • Freelance
  • Submissions
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Distribution

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2023 The Eastern Echo

Powered by Solutions by The State News.