Homeless week is without a doubt one of the worst parts of being a BYU student. Most summer housing contracts in Provo end a week before fall contracts begin, leaving most students without a place to live for a week. While many students are able to stay with family in the area, students from out of state often find themselves in a tricky situation.
President Kevin J. Worthen has recently been made aware of these concerns. He has been working with his team to come up with a solution. At the start of homeless week, all the tables were cleared from the main floor of the Wilk. President Worthen then retrieved a wand from the inside pocket of his cloak and waved it, causing hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags to appear across the floor of the student center.
“Now all the students will have a place to sleep!” cried Kevin, clearly very pleased with himself.
The sleeping bags soon filled up with students, and all talking was quickly stopped by Ethan Webb, BYUSA president shouting “Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!”
Around 3AM most students had fallen asleep. However, the AU’s undercover reporter was still wide awake to see President Worthen come back into the Wilk.
“Any sign of him?” asked Ethan in a whisper.
“No. All well here?”
“Everything under control, sir.”
The door to the Wilk was heard creaking open again.
“President?” It was Vice President of Academics, Shane Reese. “You remember the conversation we had just before- ah- the start of term?” said Reese who was barely opening his lips, as though trying to block Ethan out of the conversation.
“I do, Shane,” said Worthen, and there was something like a warning in his voice.
“It seems- almost impossible- that the landlords could have pulled off homeless week again without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed-”
“I do not believe a single person inside this university would have helped make this event happen once again,” said Worthen, and his tone made it so clear the subject was closed that Reese didn’t reply. “I must go inform the BYU parking police,” said Worthen. “I said I would inform them when our search was complete.”
“Didn’t they want to help, sir?” said Ethan.
“Oh, yes,” said Worthen coldly. “But I’m afraid the parking police will never cross the threshold of this student center while I’m president.”
Ethan looked slightly abashed. Worthen left the hall, walking quickly and quietly. Reese stood for a moment, watching the president with an expression of deep resentment on his face; then he too left.
Sleeping bags will be available at the Wilk for the rest of the week, along with chocolate frog brownies and every flavor of ice cream.