Pace Paw Print

Do not pack those bags and do not dress warm, because on March 5, the Pace University Center of Peace and Social Justice (CPSJ) and the Psychology Club will be bringing Pace students a one-of-a-kind experience. This event will take students out of their shoes and put them into someone else's that they would never imagine being in. CPSJ and the Psychology Club are hosting a Homeless Night event with the help of graduate assistant and staff member of the Student Development and Campus Activities office, Gabriel Tanglao, who came up with the idea. Tanglao is also incorporating the event with Back to Basics month, a month when people go back to the basic roots of social issues such as gender equality and homelessness. Students will understand this educational event and have firsthand experience on how it feels to not have food or a home for a night.

CPSJ's mission is to develop educational programs related to war, peace, globalization, social justice, multicultural awareness, and vulnerable and unrepresented populations, especially the poor. CPSJ encourages social development of people, in addition to seeking to raise consciousness on social issues through community leadership that engages students with various creative approaches to build a climate that embraces diversity, promotes inclusively, and actively seeks justice for all. The Homeless Night event helps CPSJ promote awareness and justice both locally and internationally.

The event's goal is to promote consciousness around the world. Engaging students will be sleeping outdoors for a night to experience homelessness first hand. CPSJ and Psychology Club are encouraging all students to participate.

"As students at Pace University, many forget that we are the elite," said Nina Rodriguez, President of Psychology Club. "We must humble ourselves and experience what so many Americans go through each day." While students are freezing on the cold green grass of Miller Lawn without beds or sheets, two films will be showing to reflect the theme of the event, The Pursuit of Happyness and Children of Men.

For the Psychology Club, this event relates to the organization because it focuses on cultural epidemics and builds national awareness. There is a large portion of the population that is homeless and is forgotten about in society. "Part of psychology is tying in social trends and societal attitudes into behavior," said Rodriguez.

The Vice President of Psychology Club, Nick Crimarco, will also be leading a discussion after the presentation of the films. As college students, it is important to understand and learn about the world outside of our own local area. The Psychology Club is an educational organization on campus. The club represents all students on campus with an interest or curiosity in psychology. It has a strong member base and is growing in creativity, programs, and motivation. The purpose of the organization is to advance the science of Psychology. It is to encourage, stimulate and maintain scholarship of the individual members in all fields.

Activities are meant to be a fun and educational way to inform those who do not know about the society and community beyond the Westchester area. The Psychology Club has many other events planned for the rest of the semester, in addition to Homeless Night. They are hosting a Ski Trip coming up in March, a Broadway Show to see Spamalot, the Annual Psi Chi Induction, Dinner and A Movie with the Pleasantville Cottage School, and a Disney Movie Marathon where students can "revisit their childhood". Each of these events are open to all Pace students. "It should be a really fun semester." Rodriguez said.

If interested in joining Psychology Club, they hold weekly meetings on Wednesday afternoons from 12:20 - 1:15 (common hour) in Conference Room C/D in the Kessel Student Center. All students are welcome to join, Psychology major or not.

Urging students to join, Rodriguez believes anyone would enjoy the organization. "Our club meetings are so much fun and our members are so motivated to help with our programs and keep the Psychology Club active and flourishing on the Pleasantville campus," she said.

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