To the editor:

I happened to note the article of how Baker University students are raising funds for the homeless by sleeping in cardboard boxes (J-W, Wednesday). Although the intention was good, I cannot help but feel that the homeless are getting slapped in the face.

Formerly homeless in this town myself, I see the homeless stereotyped on a daily basis. Not all of them sleep in cardboard boxes. In fact, that is really rare. Most curl up with little less than a blanket in some remote corner of a public park, trying to stay warm for another night. Others use the shelters that have an extremely limited capacity, or policies that others would rather live outside rather than conform with.

You cannot identify a person as homeless by the way that they appear. That person next to you in a diner may be homeless, despite being clean, groomed and well dressed. I would ask that the Baker students consider how the homeless really live when they embark on this fund-raising venture.

Oh, and can we get locals to harass them too? That way they can get a more realistic feel.

Chris Collins,

Lawrence