Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Crisis (QBACC) has submitted a proposal to set up 10 solar-powered tables on green areas around campus. If approved, the tables will be placed near the Law Library courtyard, Mackintosh-Corry’s courtyard, and around Gordon Hall.
Sonni Beber, ArtSci ’22 and Mental Health Manager of QBACC, is one of the project leads.
“The last couple years, we’ve obviously been pretty cooped up in our homes, so this would help get people outside […] in nature which benefits our mental health and well-being,” Beber said in an interview with The Journal.
The project was first introduced in September when QBACC noticed how many students wanted to study outside. With limited outdoor study spaces that had sufficient Wi-Fi access and power outlets, Beber and her team saw an opportunity.
The picnic tables include outlets powered by attached solar panels. Beber said, since many students use laptops for schoolwork, the outlets would make studying outdoors more “accessible.”
“People can really stay there for a long time and get their work done and do group projects together,” she said. “It’s obviously way more enjoyable to be outside when the weather’s nice than to study in the library.”
On top of creating more opportunities to study outside, Beber said QBACC’s initiative will encourage the Queen’s community to be more environmentally conscious and fight climate anxiety.
“By encouraging students to get outside, they’ll feel more connected to the environment.” QBACC has sent in a proposal to the University and is waiting for the process to be approved.
Tags:
QBACC, Climate crisis, Outdoors
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