Students Choose Outdoor Community Spaces for 10K Initiative

ASG to Install New Benches, Picnic Tables around Campus

 By Brad Stewart  April 5, 2013

ASG will install outdoor benches and picnic tables around campus after nearly 2,000 students voted on the 10K Initiative. The new equipment will help facilitate communal gatherings in public, outdoor locations throughout campus.
In the fall, students submitted their ideas on how to improve student life at Northwestern with $10,000, resulting in a record 500 submissions. Throughout winter quarter, ASG’s 10K Initiative committee researched each submission and narrowed the options down to a list of four, based on feasibility and impact on the Northwestern community.
During reading and finals week of winter quarter, students voted on the final options: outdoor community spaces, a Willie the Wildcat statue, frontend composting or an outdoor film series.
This year’s vote total more than doubled last year’s, when the Initiative led to ASG installing Wi-Fi on parts of the Lakefill.
"Creating outdoor community spaces will hopefully prove to be a great opportunity for students to better utilize our shared space and gorgeous campus," said ASG President Victor Shao.  "ASG's goal is to connect Northwestern. This will give students another space to connect with each other and strengthen our Wildcat community."