Published Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:08 AM
A peek into a life of poverty
By JANET PHELPS
janet.phelps@theeagle.com
Texas A&M students Chelsea Noriega (right) and Lauren Windmeyer study by flashlight while participating in a poverty simulation at Simpson Drill Field on the Texas A&M campus Wednesday.
In a crowded hallway on the Texas A&M University campus last week, an Aggie gave Judy LeUnes and her "family" a turkey and cheese sandwich.
The group divided the sandwich into five pieces and scarfed it down as students rushed by on their way to class.
After less than 12 hours into a poverty simulation, the group of Hearne school district teachers and administrators said they were tired, dirty and, most of all, hungry.
"We had no control: no control over where we were sleeping, what food we got," said LeUnes, who works with the district as an independent consultant. "We were very uncomfortable. It was just exhausting."
But the experience brought the group something that LeUnes said was worth much more than comfort: empathy.
Nearly 65 people -- all Texas A&M students except for the Hearne group -- took part in a poverty simulation Tuesday and Wednesday.
The 48-hour simulation was sponsored by W (Power in Women), an on-campus group of Aggies focused on poverty and social service.
Amanda Snyder, who founded W two years ago, said the group's members wanted to help college students understand that many people in Bryan-College Station are struggling to get by.
"We wanted to open students' eyes to what's going on in Bryan," she said. "Some people have negative stereotypes about homelessness and how people become homeless. We wanted to show students that it can happen to anyone at any time."
The group arrived at Simpson Drill Field on Tuesday evening with full stomachs and cardboard boxes to sleep on. They were given family scenarios with mock identities that included being homeless.
Organizers set up mock social service agencies based on Bryan-College Station nonprofit groups, which the students visited as part of their family scenario.
The students and the Hearne group were given a box of food Wednesday morning that they had to ration among their "family" members. They were assigned to jobs on campus, including scraping gum off trash cans and working in a garden.
They were also encouraged to ask people for food and for money to buy food. Snyder said she wanted people to experience the loss of dignity that comes with having to ask people for help.
But not everything about the simulation was accurate, Texas A&M junior Renee Rybicki said.
The psychology major said she was surrounded by her friends and fellow Aggies during the simulation. But most people who are homeless are alone, she said.
"You can't simulate loneliness," she said.
Nineteen-year-old Nikki Knight said she noticed a difference in the way people treated her when she showed up at a computer lab dirty after two days without showering and working outside.
"People just kind of cleared out," the freshman business major said. "It was really embarrassing."
Knight said it was weird not being able to eat what you wanted, when you wanted to. She said the simulation motivated her to start volunteering.
"This definitely made me feel differently about homeless people," she said.
Snyder said W members hope to continue the event annually and have already received requests from groups at other universities interested in starting their own simulations. Participants raised $900 for Twin City Mission's new homeless shelter.
"I don't think it could have gone any better for this being our first year and first time doing this," she said. "I feel like people were very impacted by this look into poverty and homelessness. That was our goal -- for just one person to walk away or be impacted or changed for the better. That's what really mattered."
LeUnes said the simulation gave Hearne teachers a look into what many of their children experience every day. On Wednesday, she said that she had already seen a change in people's attitudes toward poverty.
"We teach in a high-poverty area," she said. "Most teachers have no idea what poverty is really like."
LeUnes said she would like to bring a similar poverty simulation to Hearne in the fall.
Hearne third-grade teacher Tyra Watts said she's been frustrated by students who can't stay awake in class or who don't do their homework.
"Now I realize all I want right now is food," Watts said after the simulation.
Comments
[comment]
24 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
CBS-Common Bryan Situation On:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:26 PM
Comment Title:
Gangs
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:13 PM
Comment Title:
And the good life will be on hold for a College Station gang banger, Jeronimo Guedea, in early May.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:48 AM
Comment Title:
"A 21-year-old gang member was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday after reaching a plea deal for a 2007 incident in which he shot and injured four people in Bryan up like this sometimes."---The end of Bryan poverty for some.
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Posted by:
quit multiplying On:
Monday, April 20, 2009 8:31 PM
Comment Title:
This has been a world wide mantra since the early 70's. Those that need to heed the message haven't and won't.
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Posted by:
Bryan poverty is a eye opener. On:
Monday, April 20, 2009 5:10 PM
Comment Title:
The condition of Bryan has been bad for 20 years now. The High crime rate is from the poverty of a poor city. Seeing it a shock and awe experience.
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Posted by:
robin On:
Monday, April 20, 2009 11:40 AM
Comment Title: Get and job and quit multiplying
Why is it that cells phones and designer tennis shoes are afforded but yet food stamps are given ...must be subsidized by stealing also! Get out and get yourself a J O B and quit having so many children that you cannot afford!
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, April 20, 2009 7:45 AM
Comment Title:
Bryan appears to be 70%+ full of Poverty areas. I did a Poverty tour of the Bryan Slums, Ghettos, and HUD area all over they city.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 8:03 PM
Comment Title:
Poverty isnt just in Bryan. I live in College Station and I would say that I live in poverty! You guys need to open your eyes and take a good drive around College Station and its back roads. Poverty strikes everyone! Not just those that live on Sims or MLK!
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 3:43 PM
Comment Title: the simulation
To the comment all the way on the very bottom, it is true the simulation did not give the participants the complete poverty experience. It would be very difficult to recreate all the awful aspects it has in just a 2 day period. And as for the students studying, put yourself in their shoes. They pay thousands of dollars to go to school and want to do well. The very fact they took the time they could have used to study in comfortable room and instead used it towards this experience says alot. I was there. It's hard study in the elements with the wind, cold, and darkness all around you and on top of that take a test on little to no sleep. This was meant to get people out of their bubble for just a day, to get them out of their comfort zones and realize there are people out there who dont know where their next meal is coming from, who don't have a plethora of warm clothes, who don't have a home. CS is a bubble, not many students are exposed to poverty in Bryan or know about its bureaucratic difficulties, and this simulation was a way of bringing to them, forcing them to see it and experience it. Just because it was a controlled environment doesn't mean it wasn't effective. It was meant to spread awareness and through that new awareness to find inspiration to change how things are for the better. It was a success in my eyes, and to all those who disagree go out next year and participate in it for yourself. It isn't easy.
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Posted by:
Narcotics trafficking, gangs, prostitution and assaults will soon become a norm in CS On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 3:25 PM
Comment Title: Sn0re sez:
Rocky, I told you this would happen five or six months ago when you were posting heavily under the names of Kevin Harris, Snook TX, Anderson TX, and a myriad of other user names. Remember I said, when Bryan's new police procedures took effect the gangsters and trash would flee Bryan to the safety of their hometowns. The soon you refer to is NOW. College Station's 17% increase in major crimes is proof. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.
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Posted by:
Rocky Patel Brazos County. On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:46 PM
Comment Title: Poverty in Bryan.and Hearne. Growing at a fast rate.
It is in the interest of the Brazos Valley residents especially those in CS due to their wealth to find a way to improve the living conditions in Bryan. I don't know how this is possible since we cannot vote in Bryan and their administrators is a big part of the problem for the last 25-Years. Many of their welfare units have become dilapidated and their residents have started moving into CS. The code enforcement in Hearne in Bryan is ineffective also. Narcotics trafficking, gangs, prostitution and assaults will soon become a norm in CS as these residents flee Bryan, migrate to CS and the County.
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Posted by:
Tiffany On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:38 PM
Comment Title:
Bryan and Hearne have many similarities beside poverty. A failed government is one, high crime rate, high turn over in police dept., Chiefs constantly being involved in scandals, and the composition is also similar. Their education systems have failed, even though Hearne has improved theirs. This did not happen over night it took quite sometime for this to happen.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 11:16 AM
Comment Title:
Anyone can go bust and wind up being poor. It takes making choices to stay poor. Some one that has been poor for an extended period of time deserves no help and no pity. You dont have to have money to make money.
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Posted by:
Susan-CSTX X-Bryan resident. On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:33 AM
Comment Title:
If Bryan citizen's did not try to conceal their poverty and crime and put as much effort into working as they do in covering things up and public school failures, they would be living an extravagant lifestyle today.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:30 AM
Comment Title:
Why is it students that live in CS for 4 years have a greater understand of the Poverty problems of Bryan then it's citzens?
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:21 AM
Comment Title:
Having a poverty simulation to Hearne is very different than having one at A/M. A/M had a large Police force that patrolled this area. They have been trained for activities like this. Bryan and Hearne have large parts of their cities that are very very dangerous. Bryan has more police manpower. Hearne Police manpower is limited. Navasota is also a poverty city in need with a less aggressive criminal past.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:54 AM
Comment Title:
Poor education is one of the Problem feeding the Poverty in Bryan and Hearne. Hearne has made great improvements in it's school. BISD still has a long way to go.
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Posted by:
The Poverty Condition in Bryan and Hearne is very Bad now On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:48 AM
Comment Title:
"We wanted to open students' eyes to what's going on in Bryan," ----------It is a rats nest of drugs and hookers extreme poverty and crime that's what is going on in Bryan. Today Bryan criminal groups have little choice but to come into CS to steal cloths and other items just for survival or support their drug addictions. Most Bryan businesses have closed down west of HEB and north to Hwy-21. For some reason it has been hidden from the people of CS and many in Bryan. They just do not drive into this area for fear of criminals attacking and there is no shopping. These conditions are both results of poverty. The news media does not report on the growing crime and poverty problems in Bryan. The crime in Bryan is among the worst in the USA a product of poverty. Bryan Gangs Kill on a regular bases as the fight over drug distribution areas. Open drug dealing is common in their massive HUD welfare housing areas that are now all over the city of Bryan and in some Hearne areas. We need to have another poverty meeting to bring help to the poor of Bryan and Hearne.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:15 AM
Comment Title:
The north west side of Bryan has dirt roads in many areas. The homes falling down. The west side of Bryan does not have one grocery store and a large population. These areas need help now. I traveled the 3rd world and can find no difference between it and many Poor areas of Bryan. Bryan needs help now.
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Posted by:
Downtown Area-Bryan Poverty role. On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:08 AM
Comment Title:
If any of these students need to see poverty check out the Waco street area of north Bryan and the people in North downtown Bryan. It is real and 24-hours a day 7-days a week.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 9:04 AM
Comment Title:
Poverty is only 1 mile north of TAMU in Bryan. They could has been help the People of Bryan and doing something about real poverty.
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Posted by:
Poverty Breeds Poverty- Let us help Bryan!!! On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 8:43 AM
Comment Title: Poverty is next to us.
Here are a few roads to take a poverty slum tour in Bryan this weekend. Sims, Beck, MLK, Groesbeck, Palasota, South College, Finfeather, Hwy 21 West of Texas Ave. Neal rec and elementary school area, Kemp elementary school area and Leonard road.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 8:21 AM
Comment Title:
Every journey starts with the first step. If no more than the Knight girl mentioned volunteers to aid the homeless in the future, the exercise will have been worth it. However, I do agree with a lot of the statement below, but let us hope the experienced reached many more participants.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:28 AM
Comment Title: Unreal
A picture says a thousand words. The student, dressed nicely with the cozy sleeping bag, studying and doing homework by flashlight, probably learned nothing about poverty in this simulation. People in poverty do not worry about doing their homework, do not have clean clothes, fancy sleeping bags, flashlights, or college texts to worry about. A few students/participants got hungry for one day. No clue. But, now they can be politically correct.
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