As warm summer and fall weather approaches, St. Thomas’ Undergraduate Student Government hopes to make St. Thomas’ outdoor space more accommodating by adding new picnic tables to the Upper Quad.

Jared Cutts, the freshman class senator for USG, recently spearheaded the campaign advocating the installation of new tables by fall 2016. Through an accepted proposal to the Pepsi Fund, Cutts and the USG community outreach committee were awarded $2,800 to purchase four new picnic tables at about $700 each.

Cutts is currently working with the Physical Plant and Facilities Management to select which tables to purchase using the grant money. The Pepsi Fund gives money to student government organizations for community-centric projects, considering that the projects meet certain criteria.

“‘Is it legitimate? Is this something that will benefit the community?’ If they (the Pepsi Fund Committee) believe that it is, then it is approved,” Cutts said.

Director of Campus Life Margaret Cahill advised Cutts during the process and feels that the new tables will be a positive addition to the campus.

“It’s just more comfortable to sit at a table than it is to sit on the grass,” Cahill said. “There are a couple out there now, and I know that Jared had shared that other students had shared that they’re always full.There was an opportunity to add a couple more. There will probably never be enough, but I think to add a couple more was what their goal was.”

Most outdoor tables and seating are located near the Anderson Student Center, rather than near residence halls. Cutts believes the new tables will encourage students to go outside to do homework and other activities.

First-year student and Dowling Hall resident Darian Zimmerman agrees that there is a need for more tables.

“I would really like more picnic tables, personally, because they’re always filled — the ones that we do have,“ Zimmerman said. “I go out and paint a lot out there, so painting is better on a picnic table than on the ground, and it’s the same with laptop use.”

Cutts had the idea of adding more tables his first week on campus. After being elected as the freshman senator, it was one of the first ideas he brought to the table.

“Everyone wants to be out on the quad when it’s nice out … The lack of tables that we had up there kind of stopped a few people from going out there when they wanted to work on something because there were already people on the tables,” Cutts said. “I had conversations with those who were already studying in the quad and those who were walking past about what they’d like. They agreed that more picnic tables would be a good idea.”

However, according to Cutts, there have been concerns about whether tables would get in the way of students tossing footballs, frisbees or doing other athletic activities on the quad.

“We’re going to primarily station the tables near trees so that not a lot of activity goes on around the trees as far as throwing a football or a frisbee or anything. They’ll be out of the way of those students,” Cutts said.

Cutts is also focused on the possibility of building more of a community in the Upper Quad with the added seating.

“Outside of homework, it really makes the Upper Quad look more inviting for going outside and hanging out, whether they’re doing homework or with friends,” Cutts said. “I think that overall, it’s going to promote more activity on the Upper Quad from students, which is going to be great.”

Two of the primary criteria for the Pepsi Fund are that the project must be beneficial to the community and that it has a lasting impact, according to Cutts.

“This year there’s a couple of tables out there, but just expanding that and promoting that engagement right away, especially for the first-year students who live in that area…will encourage them throughout their time at St. Thomas to make that more of a communal area,” Cutts said. “I think it will have a long-lasting effect on the community of the Upper Quad and the culture of the Upper Quad.”

Every alteration to the St. Thomas campus is impactful, according to Cahill.

“Initiatives can be small or large,” Cahill said. “This may be an example of a smaller one, but it still has great value.”

Maya Shelton-Davies can be reached at shel1181@stthomas.edu.