Katie Rosario works to tape down the roof of her group’s shelter as part of Habitat International’s Act! Speak! Build! Week at Mount St. Mary’s University. Groups built cardboard shelters and slept in them outside overnight.

Nearby, squat cardboard shelters dotted the landscape, creating a community of sorts for people without a real home.

But these cardboard homes weren't under an overpass in a big city or hidden in a secluded stretch of woods beside a highway; they were perched on the academic quad at Mount St.
Mary's University.

To bring attention to the plight of the homeless, about 60 students slept overnight Wednesday in the boxes as part of Habitat International's Act! Speak! Build! Week.

The week-long initiative for students encourages advocacy on behalf of homelessness and the need for affordable housing.

"We've done it since the first year in 2002, when it was known as HabiFest," said Melissa Main, university community service and service learning director.

Participating student groups are asked to plan an advocacy event, such as a candlelight vigil, that brings attention to homelessness. They also organize letter-writing and petition-signing campaigns.

The cardboard shantytown is an annual Mount tradition, Main said.

Sleeping in boxes, even if for only one night, gives the students an idea of how daily life is for society's homeless population.

"It gives us perspective," said student Julia Roscoe, who participated with the campus's Women's Fellowship. "Obviously, attending a very expensive university like this, we've never had to do without. This makes us more aware of what people go through."

While the students had fun -- many of the boxes were elaborately decorated and prizes were given to the more creative sites -- the seriousness of the mission was not lost on them.

Each participant solicited pledges from friends, family members and fellow students, and all the money collected will benefit Frederick County.

"The event is part of Habitat International, but all the money we raise will stay locally," Main said. "We have a very good relationship with Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County."

Wednesday night was cold, with temperatures dipping into the 20s.

"If it wasn't real cold, I don't think it would have as much an impact on us," Main said. "It's good that the students experience uncomfortable conditions.

"One year, it poured down rain all night. There were shelters that didn't hold up through the rain."

Students were warmed by the fire in the metal drum. The fire pit was a popular spot throughout the night, Main said.

Though about 60 students were involved, participation was lower than past years and Main said there were many contributing factors.

"The last couple of weeks here at the Mount have been pretty intense," she said. "There was the NCAA tournament and the death of Dustin (Bauer, a student who died March 13 of injuries sustained in an on-campus fall)."

This week, students are making housing and scheduling decisions for next semester, so there was a lot of competition for the students' limited free time.

Most of the participating students stayed up late, then crawled into their boxes to sleep.

"We sang and talked around the fire until about 2, and then most of them went to bed," Main said. "About five stayed at the fire all night, and most of the students stayed until about 6 before they headed home."

Students concluded the week's activities with a "dinner" of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Thursday.

Participants have until April 15 to collect pledges and Main will have a final tally then of money raised by the event.

"They've worked hard and are very concerned about the issue of homelessness," she said. "They really do care."