GLASSBORO — Looking to further student community outreach, a number of Rowan University student clubs will be camping out on campus for a whole week, focusing on community involvement in higher education.

On Monday, April 15, through Friday, April 19, Rowan’s second annual “Tent State University” will have student-run organizations sleeping outside the college’s Meditation Walk in tents, holding workshops and performances throughout the week to address community issues that effect Rowan students and the higher education community at large.

Tent State University was originally created by Rutgers University in New Brunswick in 2003. The event brings out leaders of student outreach groups along with teachers and various local bands in an effort to get both current and incoming students more involved in the college’s student organizations.

According to Samantha Powell, the lead consultant on the project, the event looks to expand over last year’s effort to bring the northern New Jersey tradition to the south.

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“Last year, it wasn’t as well organized as it is this year,” said Powell. “And the response from the student body was that they didn’t really know what was going on.”

This year, with sponsorships from clubs like the Glassboro Student Union and the Progressive Student Alliance, the five-day event will focus on specific topics concerning students and residents, including the environment and the evolution of gender equality and relations.

The event is also collecting donations throughout the week to go toward scholarships that will benefit incoming students with a community service-heavy resume.

“Right now, it’s mainly about community and uniting the students and getting them involved and active,” said Powell. “So the scholarship will go to somebody who was really involved in their high school with community service.”

Powell said they originally were looking to have one $500 scholarship, but having already received $300 in donations through their sponsorships, they will look to expand it into either two $400 or two $500 scholarships.

Workshops will run from noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday next week with performances and bands holding their events from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

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Contact staff writer Phil Davis at 856-686-3631 or pdavis@southjerseymedia.com