Community leaders discuss 'Poverty Under the Stars'
Jill Abell
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: News
The true test of solidarity: sitting through a two-hour presentation in 40 degree weather.
And then sleeping outside in the cold all night.
The purpose of the fourth annual Poverty Under the Stars event titled "The Great Recession" was to feel a sense of solidarity with people suffering from the economic crisis, said associate sociology professor Scott Myers-Lipton.
Tent decorations for the event began at 1 p.m., when community organizations, student groups and anyone from the community were invited.
The presentation consisted of speakers, video clips and poetry readings that addressed current issues and possible solutions to the economic crisis from various organizations and community representatives, Myers-Lipton said.
Sociology major Sandra Huerta said setting up the tents in the center of campus provided a visual draw to the event.
"We're trying to make others aware with the recession, poverty, unemployment and foreclosures," Huerta said. "We're also trying to connect the recession with (Hurricane) Katrina."
The presentation portion of the event began at 7 p.m. and featured Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Assemblyman Jim Beall and several other representatives from organizations and religious leaders.
Myers-Lipton took the microphone and said issues surrounding the "Great Recession," an economic downturn that is less severe than a depression, could be solved by a civic works act.
"Unemployment, poverty and hunger are increasing - the basic issues of our country, of surviving, at the heart these major issues it is not just the megabanks, but how are we going to have a bailout for the people?" he said.
Todd Madigan, a representative of Sacred Heart Community Services, which provides tools for self-sufficiency for those in need, said he has experienced unemployment, poverty and hunger increasing as 750 new families seek out services from his organization each month.
"A 40 percent increase in the point-in-time estimate of homeless persons (those with many or long homeless episodes and a disabling condition), indicates a growing number of homeless persons in need of significant help and outreach," said the 2009 Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey Report Web site.
Economic Crisis in Education
Anthropology major Ellen Rowlins said she has experienced the fee increase firsthand.
"When I first came to SJSU, I had $15,000 in my pocket," she said.
Rowlins said when she went to pay for her tuition as a full-time student at SJSU, the total was $482.47.
"I still remember that number to this day, $482.47," she said. "This semester for three units it cost $630."
After Rowlins, Myers-Lipton presented a video clip about unemployment for college graduates from ages 20 to 24.
The average number of unemployed college graduates is 9.3 percent with an average of $3,173 credit card debt in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site.
Occupation and Education Solutions
Jim Beall, an assembly member and an SJSU alumnus, said he will implement a California Civic Works Act in two months that is based on House Resolution 2269, which helps create jobs for 100,000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina to rebuild affordable housing and infrastructure, restore wetlands and promote energy efficiency.
"I'm in charge of joblessness and hopelessness in California," he said.
Beall said he strives to get money into the hands of the people instead of lobbyists.
"My parents met here at SJSU, so I'm here because of SJSU," he said. "I'm tired of fee increases."
He said he worked to pay for his education by cleaning the campus and janitorial work.
"Now, that wouldn't even come close to covering tuition here (SJSU)," he said.
He said he supports the bill to tax oil to fund higher education.
Bill number AB 656 would impose an oil and gas severance tax after Jan. 1 to fund California higher education, according to the California State Senate Web site.
Campus Sleep Out
Students, professors and community members watched "Trouble the Water," a documentary filmed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, before they slept in their tents by the statue.
"Gandhi said, 'There's no spirituality without sacrifice,'" Myers-Lipton said. "So this is a night to remember this is what it's like for people who don't have a home, and some of them are literally on the streets and living in the creeks and other places trying to keep warm."
Sophomore pre-nursing major Leah Cerezo said she was going to sleep out in the cold.
"People who weren't here don't have the same understanding," Cerezo said. "I have a different experience. Here you actually experience it (sleeping outside) versus just knowing it."
Pre-nursing major Jay DeGuzman said he did not plan on sleeping in his decorated tent.
"After seeing the presentation, we decided to sleep out," said DeGuzman, a Alpha Kappa Omega member.
He said one night of sleeping outside was not the same experience as sleeping on the streets.
"Some homeless don't have sleeping bags," DeGuzman said. "There were snacks here, we had tents, so I don't think we got the full effect, but we got an idea of what it's like."
And then sleeping outside in the cold all night.
The purpose of the fourth annual Poverty Under the Stars event titled "The Great Recession" was to feel a sense of solidarity with people suffering from the economic crisis, said associate sociology professor Scott Myers-Lipton.
Tent decorations for the event began at 1 p.m., when community organizations, student groups and anyone from the community were invited.
The presentation consisted of speakers, video clips and poetry readings that addressed current issues and possible solutions to the economic crisis from various organizations and community representatives, Myers-Lipton said.
Sociology major Sandra Huerta said setting up the tents in the center of campus provided a visual draw to the event.
"We're trying to make others aware with the recession, poverty, unemployment and foreclosures," Huerta said. "We're also trying to connect the recession with (Hurricane) Katrina."
The presentation portion of the event began at 7 p.m. and featured Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Assemblyman Jim Beall and several other representatives from organizations and religious leaders.
Myers-Lipton took the microphone and said issues surrounding the "Great Recession," an economic downturn that is less severe than a depression, could be solved by a civic works act.
"Unemployment, poverty and hunger are increasing - the basic issues of our country, of surviving, at the heart these major issues it is not just the megabanks, but how are we going to have a bailout for the people?" he said.
Todd Madigan, a representative of Sacred Heart Community Services, which provides tools for self-sufficiency for those in need, said he has experienced unemployment, poverty and hunger increasing as 750 new families seek out services from his organization each month.
"A 40 percent increase in the point-in-time estimate of homeless persons (those with many or long homeless episodes and a disabling condition), indicates a growing number of homeless persons in need of significant help and outreach," said the 2009 Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey Report Web site.
Economic Crisis in Education
Anthropology major Ellen Rowlins said she has experienced the fee increase firsthand.
"When I first came to SJSU, I had $15,000 in my pocket," she said.
Rowlins said when she went to pay for her tuition as a full-time student at SJSU, the total was $482.47.
"I still remember that number to this day, $482.47," she said. "This semester for three units it cost $630."
After Rowlins, Myers-Lipton presented a video clip about unemployment for college graduates from ages 20 to 24.
The average number of unemployed college graduates is 9.3 percent with an average of $3,173 credit card debt in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site.
Occupation and Education Solutions
Jim Beall, an assembly member and an SJSU alumnus, said he will implement a California Civic Works Act in two months that is based on House Resolution 2269, which helps create jobs for 100,000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina to rebuild affordable housing and infrastructure, restore wetlands and promote energy efficiency.
"I'm in charge of joblessness and hopelessness in California," he said.
Beall said he strives to get money into the hands of the people instead of lobbyists.
"My parents met here at SJSU, so I'm here because of SJSU," he said. "I'm tired of fee increases."
He said he worked to pay for his education by cleaning the campus and janitorial work.
"Now, that wouldn't even come close to covering tuition here (SJSU)," he said.
He said he supports the bill to tax oil to fund higher education.
Bill number AB 656 would impose an oil and gas severance tax after Jan. 1 to fund California higher education, according to the California State Senate Web site.
Campus Sleep Out
Students, professors and community members watched "Trouble the Water," a documentary filmed in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, before they slept in their tents by the statue.
"Gandhi said, 'There's no spirituality without sacrifice,'" Myers-Lipton said. "So this is a night to remember this is what it's like for people who don't have a home, and some of them are literally on the streets and living in the creeks and other places trying to keep warm."
Sophomore pre-nursing major Leah Cerezo said she was going to sleep out in the cold.
"People who weren't here don't have the same understanding," Cerezo said. "I have a different experience. Here you actually experience it (sleeping outside) versus just knowing it."
Pre-nursing major Jay DeGuzman said he did not plan on sleeping in his decorated tent.
"After seeing the presentation, we decided to sleep out," said DeGuzman, a Alpha Kappa Omega member.
He said one night of sleeping outside was not the same experience as sleeping on the streets.
"Some homeless don't have sleeping bags," DeGuzman said. "There were snacks here, we had tents, so I don't think we got the full effect, but we got an idea of what it's like."
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