Tuesday, April 4, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Speaker tells tale of life on the street
Lee Stringer, author of the book Grand Central Winter: Stories from the Streets, spoke to a small crowd last night about his life living in the streets of New York for six years. Stringer will speak again at 2 p.m. today at the Big 12 room in the Kansas Union. Photo by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
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By Jessie Meyer
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Lee Stringer, a former homeless man, used his story of descent from successful businessman to life on the streets to reveal what he called a hidden side of life last night.
Stringer spoke about homelessness to a crowd of about 40 at the Kansas Union Ballroom last night to kick off Into the Streets Week, a week-long effort to make students aware of social issues such as homelessness, hunger and illiteracy, and to encourage their community involvement. He related his experiences and read from his book, Grand Central Winter: Stories from the Streets, in which he gathered his memories of living in New York's Grand Central Terminal.
His fall into homelessness began in the mid-1980s. As the owner of his own successful business, Stringer said he was caught up in life's whirlwind until his business partner, brother and father all died.
"I walked by all three deaths," Stringer said. "I didn't have time to mourn or understand what those three deaths meant to me."
A year later, wrapped in a life of depression and broke after spending $100,000 to support his cocaine addiction, Stringer was evicted from his apartment — an event he said marked a change for the better.
"At the moment I was walking out, I thought 'At least now some other possibilities might present themselves because it's not about reaching for the brass ring anymore.' Stringer said.
His break came during his
"It's a real success story, because I think it takes a lot of courage to pull yourself out of a situation like that," said Anneliese Stoever, co-coordinator Of Into the Streets Week and Overland Park sophomore.
sixth year of homelessness, when he discovered his love for writing while living under the stairs on track 109 at the Grand Central Terminal, he said.
"An addiction is the extreme source of self-betrayal," said Stringer, who spent many of his homeless years high on cocaine. "Writing is the extreme for self-expression, and soon I had a new habit."
Bebecca Sutherland, university relations director for the Center for Community Outreach
Stringer began writing for the Street News, a newspaper sold
and Andover senior, said part of Stringer's appeal was that he spoke from his own experiences.
"He has lived in the conditions he talks about," she said.
CCO and the Hall Center for Humanities sponsored Stringer's visit.
Stringer will hold a smaller discussion about homelessness and his personal experiences at 2 p.m. today at the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union. The event is free, and open to the public.
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