Interview with Darren White

On October 3, 2002, Mr. White agreed to answer several of your questions. Here’s the transcript of your interview.

What’s your name?

Darren White.

What’s your dog’s name?

Boss. I call him Boss.

Where did you get him?

Out on the interstate. Some punk left him there as a puppy.

Wow, that’s cool. He’s lucky you found him.

That’s right.

Um … How old are you?

I’m 22.

Have you lived on the streets for long?

You think I sleep on the streets?

Sorry. No. I mean … um … when did you leave home?

I left home about a year ago.

And where’s your home now?

have a home when I need a home.

Okay … So does that mean that you camp out a lot?

Some.

And do you sleep in shelters?

I don’t sleep in shelters. You wouldn’t either.

Really? Are they dangerous?

Well, what do you think? You got sixty, maybe eighty guys there each night. You got something in your pocket when you go to sleep, it’s not there when you wake up. Some of the church shelters are alright, I guess. There’s one … I mean, they’re okay. But most of the time it’s easier to camp.

Wow. I didn’t know that.

[He nods.]

Um, where are you from?

I grew up here.

Really? Do you still have family here?

Yeah. Out in Clackamas.

When was the last time you talked with them?

I see my grandma every Sunday. I go out to her place for dinner.

Wow. Does she help you out some? I mean, does she sometimes support you?

[Shrugs] I don’t tell her much. She thinks I work construction. You know, she figures I’m getting by. I don’t ask for anything.

What about your parents?

I see my mom some too. She asks me if I need anything and I don’t … She’s got it pretty rough with my dad, and she knows I don’t have anything to say to him.

Okay … Tell me about hanging out near campus. Why do you hang out here and not downtown?

[Shrugs.] I got my friends here. It’s easier to be with the dog. It’d be even better if there weren’t so many students.

Um … do you mean that you don’t get along with students? Are students rude to you?

Hell, yes, students are rude to me.

Like how?

They just look at me like I’m scum, or like they wish I wasn’t here. A couple nights ago, some guy drove by and threw a bottle at me. What do you think of that?

Really? Were you okay?

He missed. Most times, I try not to be here at night.

It’s weird. I think a lot of students would say that they’re scared of you.

They got nothing to be afraid of. What am I going to do to them?

Do you ask students for change?

When I need it. Sometimes.

If you could tell students something, what would it be?

[Shrugs] To learn some manners. At least some of them. But mostly I don’t have much to say. They think what they want to think.

What do you think of the Ordinance that the city’s considering? The one about not loitering in public places?

You mean, am I surprised by it? Or do I think it’s going to do any good? I think it’s a load of crap, mostly.

So you don’t think it’s going to do any good?

It’s just going to make it easier for the cops to arrest guys when they want to.

Okay … That’s about it. Do you have final thoughts about the Ordinance? Or final things you’d like to say to students?

Tell ’em if they have questions, they can come ask me.

Okay, I will … That’s all I have. Thanks for your help.

Okay.

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