EDITOR’S NOTE: For four days and four nights, journalism sophomore Meredith Moriak conducted an experiment to see if it is possible to survive on campus without a home and with little money. The following is her personal account of the events and emotions during the week.
I found myself aimlessly wandering around the campus and pacing around the Oklahoma Memorial Union looking for a place to sleep. Eventually, I settled on a brown leather couch in Beaird Lounge for my bed that night.
During my four day, four night stint as a homeless college student, I was extremely humbled.
I missed my microwave, fuzzy velvet monkey and a warm shower.
I missed my home base.
But I was a survivor. Now I know that if being homeless was ever a reality for me, I could shower at the Huston Huffman Center, live out of my trunk and spend money frugally.
During my time as a homeless person, I spent $7.85 on food. I scoured out all of the free food options on campus every day. One thing is for sure, pizza is the popular handout.
If I was really homeless, I know the case would be different. My friends wouldn’t give me free food and drinks or call me every morning to make sure I was alive.
Now the next time I see someone on Campus Corner asking for spare change, I will be more inclined to give him more than a couple of bucks. I know what it’s like to miss your bed.
Monday
1 a.m. Fruit Punch Powerade purchased by a friend
1:04 a.m. I miss my rainbow quilt and big stuffed velvet monkey. Sleeping on a couch in the Union’s Beaird Lounge isn’t the same. Nobody likes to sleep in jeans or with their shoes on. I’m less scared of getting attacked than I am of getting yelled at by someone in OU Student Affairs. I don’t want someone to find out about my story and put a halt to it. As I get ready to sleep, I notice there is an OU security guard sitting at a table about 50 yards from me. I hope he continues to stay 50 yards from me and doesn’t tell me I have to leave.
2 to 6:40 a.m. Slept on couch in the Union’s Beaird Lounge
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Slept on couch outside the Bizzell Memorial Library’s Great Reading Room
9:45 a.m. My first night without a home went well. I made a couch in Beaird Lounge my own and rested for about four hours. The worst part of the experience was around 5:30 a.m. when the janitor decided to take out the trash and rolled through with his trash can on wheels that thumped across the tile-floored lounge. I immediately woke up when my alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., collected my things and headed for my car. I parked outside the Union last night, but at 7 a.m. my car would become free terrain for parking tickets. Nobody wants that! As I drove to the Lloyd Noble Center to park my car and ride the bus back for free, I thought about how tired I was. I didn’t get much sleep the night before from the anxiety and excitement of this adventure. Plus, I woke up with a crick in my neck.
1 p.m. Cup of Potato Soup and four crackers
4:45 p.m. Three slices of pizza and a Diet Coke at a club meeting
8:10 p.m. Showered at Huston Huffman Center
11:13 p.m. I am so hungry.
Tuesday
12:01 a.m. I am beginning to be emotionally drained. I am tired, lonely and don’t like not knowing where I am going to sleep tonight.
I’m sitting in the Union with my boyfriend Luke, and I don’t like knowing that he is going home tonight, and I will either be sleeping in my car or in the Union again. I miss my roommates a lot. It’s kind of like losing your best friend. The only people I see are the people I work with because I stop by the newsroom every day. I decided to sleep in my car, a 2000 Ford Escort, tonight. I am so tired right now, but I can’t go to bed because I have to finish a homework assignment. Also, I am afraid to shut my eyes. It’s scary here at night. I don’t want to go to bed because it’s scary.
1:30 to 6:30 a.m. Slept in my car in the Traditions East parking lot
8:40 a.m. Free Election Day doughnut on the South Oval
9:15 a.m. Three pieces of candy from my nutrition professor
11:30 a.m. Half of a leftover sandwich from Monday and a piece of candy
2:15 p.m. Chik-Fil-A waffle fries and free, three-piece chicken strips
3 to 5:15 p.m. Napped on a friend’s couch
5:48 p.m. I am in a much better state now than I was last night. I woke up this morning in my car at 6:40 a.m. when my alarm rang. The backseat of my escort is not ideal for sleeping, but surprisingly, I wasn’t sore after sleeping for five hours.
6:30 p.m. Free pizza and cookies in the newsroom and diet coke left over from Monday’s meeting
11:15 p.m. I keep forgetting I am homeless. I’ve been in the newsroom all night with coworkers covering the election, and I just keep forgetting.
Wednesday
12:30 to 7:45 a.m. Slept in my car in the Traditions East parking lot
8:22 a.m. I slept in my car again last night and parked it next to my friend Craig’s truck in the back of the lot to avoid people seeing me. I definitely don’t want anyone to know I’m homeless.
8:15 to 10:00 a.m. Slept on the couch outside of the library’s Great Reading Room
12:30 p.m. Baked Barbecue Lays from Monday’s lunch and a leftover slice of pizza
1:16 p.m. For lunch today, I went to a student ministry that I was told has free lunches on Wednesdays. But when I approached the building and looked in the doors, I didn’t see anyone and there weren’t any signs about free meals. I decided not to go in. It was a pride issue. I didn’t want to walk into the building and ask for handouts. Part of me was afraid to do so because I didn’t want to be turned away.
3:00 p.m. Being homeless is dirty. While the shower facilities at the Huff are clean, I don’t like having people look at me. I know I have to get in and out as soon as possible. I don’t think a gym locker room is the place to do my hair and makeup, which is why I never do it.
4:45 p.m. Showered at Huston Huffman Center
6:15 p.m. Three pieces of leftover pizza and four pieces of candy from nutrition class
6:25 p.m. It’s less than 24 hours until I have a home again, and I am very excited. One of the many things that separates me from the homeless community is I have friends and a boyfriend who support me and would help me if I am in a rough situation. I know they would all offer me their couch for a few days or weeks, if I needed it.
10:30 p.m. Locked in the newsroom for the night
11:37 p.m. I am hiding underneath the editor-in-chief’s desk! About 15 minutes ago, the doors to the newsroom busted open and the janitor came in.
It doesn’t sound scary. Yeah, not that scary unless you’re a 19-year-old girl sleeping in the newsroom by herself.
My editor said it was OK for me to sleep in her office because it was storming, and I was afraid to sleep in my car. I thought the newsroom would be the safest place. I was wrong. Her office doesn’t lock from the inside. I am praying this man doesn’t come in to empty the trash.
When I heard the janitor walk out of the newsroom, I army-crawled with my computer behind the editor-in-chief’s desk and took out the trash can that is typically under there. I strategically placed the trash can that is normally under her desk next to it, hoping he wouldn’t come behind the desk and discover me. So here I am, behind her desk, in the dark, typing on my computer. Yes, I realize homeless people probably don’t have computers. And they probably aren’t terrified of janitors and don’t sleep at work. Regardless, this is a funny situation. Now I am tense and won’t be able to sleep until I hear him turn off the TV, see the lights go off and hear the alarm beep for 30 seconds. I am a big girl. I’ll have to keep reminding myself that.
Thursday
12:04 a.m.I WANT TO GO HOME!
12:20 a.m. My heart is racing. Racing, racing, racing.
1:01 a.m. The janitor is still here.
1:30 a.m. Left newsroom and headed to the Union
3:00 to 6:45 a.m. Slept on a couch in the Union’s Beaird Lounge
7:30 to 8:45 a.m. Slept on a couch outside of the library’s Great Reading Room
8:07 a.m. I made it through the night alive. I got a little nervous being alone last night and wanted to sneak out of the newsroom, but I was afraid of setting off the alarm. I finally went to sleep at about 3 in the morning. Unfortunately, the janitor in the Union’s Beaird Lounge cleans from 5 to 6:30 a.m. so I didn’t get much sleep between him changing the trash bag liners and vacuuming the floor. Sleeping in your car is the best way to sleep at night. Sleeping on campus is only fun if you’re taking a 45-minute nap between classes.
5:45 p.m. Coming home was so exciting! I came into my apartment and ran to my bedroom and flopped on the bed. After about 10 minutes, I decided I was tired of being dirty and took a shower. I felt so indulged that I sang in the shower.
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lindsayjhodges 3 years, 6 months ago
So, you did this, but what are you telling us? Is there not a moral here?
What do you want your audience to learn from this? You're missing a conclusion here.
EN 3 years, 6 months ago
Fascinating, and good point about keeping a perspective between what true homeless students endure and your experiment for this piece.
I suppose the pride issue likely plays a big role in the hearts of some homeless people, leading them to turn away free food or help. Hopefully they won't.
JWade 3 years, 6 months ago
Don't listen to lindsayjhodges. I bet she is just some old former employee that won't go away. I -- on the other hand -- enjoyed your trip through hardship, although I would be careful calling it homelessness. Maybe it could use a moral, but good journeys don't need conclusions, I think.
lindsayjhodges 3 years, 6 months ago
Thanks, JWade - I wonder who you could be... I believe the article was lacking a crucial angle. But then again, I'm just a former employee who won't go away.
rebecca 1 year, 9 months ago
So, I thought it was an interesting story. I agree that there should have been some conclusion or something about the insight that the reporter gained from this experience. I think it would have been much more interesting to see how the reporter would have survived in this story, without the car, but with just a bag of clothes/toiletries/etc. I think feeling like you have to protect your belongings and take them everywhere you go is an important aspect of the story. I am NOT a former employee nor a current one. I have no ax to grind.--All of that said, still an interesting story.