From www.taylor.edu - Taylor University, integrating faith and learning

Students to Live in Cardboard Campus

04.28.2008

Photo of Cardboard CampusNearly 200 Taylor University students are expected to trade their dorm rooms for cardboard boxes this week as Social Justice Week returns to the Taylor University campus.

The students' original plan was to construct cardboard dwellings on the lawn between the Reade and Nussbaum Centers on the Upland campus Monday, but heavy rains postponed construction until today. They will live in their cardboard houses through the end of the week.

According to Dr. Mike Jessup, professor of sociology at Taylor, the goal of Social Justice Week is to help students identify with the plight of the world's homeless and oppressed peoples.

"We really want our students to wrestle with the tough questions-questions like poverty, global inequality and exploitation," he said. "This is one way for them to begin thinking about some of those tough questions."

Jessup said the students are encouraged to limit themselves to a single set of clothes for the week, to only go inside when necessary, restrict their food intake and live in their cardboard shelters instead of their residence hall rooms.

Additional Social Justice Week programs include Loose Change to Loosen Chains-a program that collects donations for International Justice Mission, an advocacy group dedicated to ending slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. Paper chains and donation containers are in the dining commons and residence halls.

"I've been really impressed; the students have really taken off with this," said Jessup. "They have been instrumental in the planning the whole time. There does seem to be a much greater interest on campus than ever before in justice issues."

Jim Garringer

 

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Ind. The 2010 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's third straight top ranking following ten straight years of being ranked in the region's Top Three.
 
Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).