While about 100 onlookers and participants abandoned University Green by midnight because of a frost advisory, five students slept in their box house overnight Friday for Box City.
Dehority Residence Hall Complex held its annual Box City event Friday from 6 p.m. until midnight to raise awareness about homelessness in the Muncie community.
The five students - Adam Fink, Nate Cook, Christopher Alexander, Adam Main and Jeff Edgar from Beemont Hall in Dehority Complex - spent two and one-half hours constructing their box home with PVC piping, cardboard and duct tape. In order to meet fire code specifications, they had two exits. They hung a battery-operated lantern for light, brought a laptop so they could watch movies and had an assortment of food and cookies.
Covered in blankets, dressed in coats and lying on pillows, Main said, "If we left early and didn't brave the cold, there would be no point in the event or the cause."
The event was originally intended to last until Saturday at 6 a.m., but weather conditions caused people to leave Box City early.
"We were told that because of a frost advisory and it being the coldest night of the season so far, we could tear down our boxes and leave early if we wanted to," sophomore David Caudill said.
About 40 people from Phi Mu Alpha Symphonia sorority spent at least two hours lifting each other in the air to paint designs on a castle they were building for Box City.
Large boxes were able to be purchased for $1, medium boxes for 50 cents, small boxes for 25 cents or boxes could be received by donating two cans of food.
"All the money and canned food goes toward Muncie Mission," Hannah Miller, advisor of Box City, said. "For $1, people could also have one cup of soup or cider and for 50 cents people could get hot chocolate. The money we raised from that went to Muncie Mission as well."
Miller said prizes that were raffled off were donated from local businesses. People who bought a box received a ticket for the raffle. Live bands performed, including The Dusty Miller Band as the headliner, and WCRD provided music as well.
Phil Miller, from Muncie Mission, spoke to the participants and onlookers about Muncie Mission and provided facts about the homeless. He said the face of homelessness is changing and the majority of the homeless people seem to be in their 20s.
Daniel Miller, chairman of Box City, said the event went great considering the weather and that overall it was a great success.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
