Students opposed to Tent City UW campus

By: NoTentCityonUWSubscribe Channel: On the Scene Location: UW Seattle Friday, May 29 , 09 at 6:47 PM

Tags:

Tent City University of Washington
32 Comments

A small group of students and faculty at the University of Washington are attempting to bring a Tent City homeless encampment onto the main Seattle campus. The student and faculty governing bodies have approved a measure for it, although the school's president has yet to make a final determination.

Over the weekend, 1,700 students joined a Facebook group opposing the measure here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69903019181

The school newspaper has more details about the story:
http://dailyuw.com/2009/5/28/facing-opposition/

This video is also on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p0Q7Lou-zo

Even though the majority of students opposing having the Tent City on campus, the school is still moving forward on the matter.

This story is inappropriate and should be flagged for moderation. Please choose from one of the following options:

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

S says ... on Sunday, Sep 27 at 10:52 PM

D, I am a UW student and I am everything but spoiled, and privileged. Its people like you that undermine the meaning of a hard days work. I worked hard for every last thing that I have, and I consider my attendance at the UW a reflection of that.

Anonymous says ... on Saturday, Jun 20 at 9:06 AM

I got a perfect SAT score, do research, teach, and volunteer. Guess what? I'm homeless, and no, I'm not going to commit crimes. I was here when crime went up, and we were just as worried as you. Don't link cause and effect just because it seems easy

Anonymous says ... on Tuesday, Jun 9 at 9:12 PM

And about the brat comments. Almost every student, except for the poor ones, leave with thousands of dollars in debt. You obviously have no clue what it's like to be a student in a time when tuition goes up by 14% but financial aid doesn't.

Anonymous says ... on Tuesday, Jun 9 at 9:10 PM

Although it may not have been the actual homeless, there was an obvious spike in criminal activity. And guess what, it has nearly stopped since they moved out!

Anonymous says ... on Tuesday, Jun 9 at 9:09 PM

To anyone who says that crime didn't increase when the camp was at 45th and 15th: We students received emails almost daily from the UW Police about criminal incidents on and around campus.

rubberninja says ... on Tuesday, Jun 9 at 5:31 AM

This issue is a great demonstration of the life lessons needed to succeed in middle to upper class America. Never say what you think and mean what you say. It was never about safety. They just don't want a bunch of smelly dirty hobos on their campus.

Billy says ... on Monday, Jun 8 at 11:34 AM

To the idiots that say "Oh you should have to be homeless to YOU know what it's like." Guess what...I was and know plenty of still homeless people, and guess what else? They ALL are criminals. Do you have any clue how much the homeless steal?

George says ... on Monday, Jun 8 at 7:07 AM

oops excuse the typo, niave is naïve

George says ... on Monday, Jun 8 at 7:03 AM

Talk about niave, statistics can be made to say anything you want them to. If having homeless is so great and hygiene isn't an issue, they why are they not camped on your front door step? "They will leave your yard better then they found it."

gina says ... on Monday, Jun 8 at 6:49 AM

This is such a liberal idea. Why dont the student Gov that approved this stupid idea take a look at crimes that happen every day and notice how many are commited by homeless people. These students and the parents PAY to attend the school-DUMB IDEA!!!

Jen says ... on Sunday, Jun 7 at 6:18 PM

This would be a great learning opportunity for these students who are not very in touch with reality. I hope the president signs off on it! And I am sure that having the homeless in a tent city will make it safer for both the homeless and students.

Jen says ... on Sunday, Jun 7 at 6:15 PM

These students are so naive. Statistics show that the homeless population is generally non-violent. They deserve some help. Plus, tent city has a lot of rules to keep it safe. There was a tent city on 45th 15th and it never caused a problem.

hippymom says ... on Saturday, Jun 6 at 10:55 AM

Please do some more research. The instance of crime has not been an issue at other locations. There is 24hr security. Hygiene issues are not a concern and they even have left places better than they found them by groundskeeping. spoiled brats!

depasz says ... on Friday, Jun 5 at 8:09 PM

yes, we would like our 18 y.o. kids to be tollerant, but I know it would have made a difference for me at that age in choosing a college. i would have been uncomfortable. if you're paying the $$, why have your kid uncomfortable?

Aaron Scott says ... on Friday, Jun 5 at 12:57 PM

Who produced the video?

D says ... on Friday, Jun 5 at 5:22 AM

They are spoiled, they just don't know it. You don't have to come from a privleged background, I didn't. But only 1 in 5 Americans GET a college education, so they are privleged NOW.

Crissy says ... on Thursday, Jun 4 at 8:19 AM

@ those who think these students are spoiled brats, have you considered that not all of them have come from well off backgrounds? They just want an education without the interruption of someone else's poor decisions. I support them 100%

Anonymous says ... on Wednesday, Jun 3 at 11:13 AM

Some spoiled rotten brats at the UW who've never had to suffer at all could stand to learn a lesson from the homeless. They're not gross or dangerous, just homeless. Those brats should be ashamed of themselves... even good people can be homeless.

Anonymous says ... on Tuesday, Jun 2 at 4:01 PM

Funny I've been hassled more by drunk frat guys far more then I've ever been hassled by homeless people. Homeless people are a lot more interesting and valuable too.

Anon says ... on Monday, Jun 1 at 10:10 PM

I find it interesting that generally speaking the greek community is upset that the ASUW senate did not represent them. How many Greek houses chose to leave their senate seats unfilled again? Most all. You forfeited your voice by not participating.

MissBeth says ... on Monday, Jun 1 at 8:20 PM

Tent City was across the street from me several years ago - they were quiet and unassuming AND they left the area they stayed at in BETTER condition than when they arrived! There have been NO MAJOR problems ANYWHERE they have been.

smom says ... on Monday, Jun 1 at 3:53 PM

I'd be concerned about safety at the UW. I am not against homeless people but a lot of homeless people are mentally ill. Mentally ill people should be somewhere else than a college campus. I know this because I have mentally ill family members!

Drew says ... on Monday, Jun 1 at 2:37 PM

Ha... UW sucks...

philoneous says ... on Sunday, May 31 at 8:31 AM

To " Hippo" Take your measly 1000 bucks and shove it. I don't know if you meant to misspell hypocritical or not but you still appear to be an uneducated idiot.

R says ... on Sunday, May 31 at 6:10 AM

I agree, students pay a lot of money to attend school at the U. I also would not want to have the homeless camped out there. It is distracting and is not a place for them to bed down. Is the U also now going to feed them in the cafeteria?

Hippocritical says ... on Sunday, May 31 at 2:04 AM

We're ALL entitled to our opinions.

Hippocritical says ... on Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 AM

And for the "leadership" at UW... If you want to use your 40 pound heads to come up with a valid solution for "homelessness" - great, but if you just want to make some political statement by housing them on campus, I think I'll rethink my $1000 gift.

Hippocritical says ... on Sunday, May 31 at 1:33 AM

Perhaps you sympathetic/empathetic "progressives" should all band together and solve the "homeless" problem by each inviting a homeless person or family to come live at your house. These kids have the same right to their opinions as anyone.

Disappointed says ... on Saturday, May 30 at 10:56 AM

I am encouraged by the support given to tent city by the undergrad, graduate, and faculty senates, but shockingly bothered to see so many others, without factual basis, oppose this community simply from a view of the homeless as scary and "icky."

Drink Up says ... on Saturday, May 30 at 6:49 AM

They have more to fear from underage drinking parties than the homeless.

Anonymous says ... on Saturday, May 30 at 6:06 AM

If they're concerned about safety, maybe they should do some research and find out if safety really is a valid concern (more than normal anyway). Maybe they can come up with some alternatives as to where to put tent city.

D says ... on Saturday, May 30 at 5:40 AM

Oh, these priveldged kids make me sick. I went to the UW and was lucky enough to be able to get an education. These kids should be homeless for a few nights, maybe it would change their mind.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 250 Characters Left

KOMO News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.