Tufts students walking back from late-night studying at Tisch Library may notice a few unexpected bodies on Tufts' Academic Quad for at least the next couple of weeks.
This past weekend, Tufts' branch of the Leadership Campaign, a movement led by college students to raise climate awareness, began the first of many sleep-outs on campus as part of a statewide effort on college campuses to promote new climate legislation in Massachusetts and encourage nationwide strides toward clean energy.
Eight Tufts students braved the rain on Saturday as part of the International Day of Climate Action, kicking off the effort by sleeping outside in tents on the Academic Quad.
"It was pretty wet and cold, but if we can't bear a little rain, how are we going to deal with the challenges that climate change poses?" said sophomore Chelsea Hogan, Tufts' media coordinator for the Leadership Campaign.
The Leadership Campaign, formerly known as Massachusetts Power Shift, is made up of branches from 24 college campuses throughout Massachusetts. They are organizing sleep-outs to galvanize state legislators, including Gov. Deval Patrick, into action. Their ultimate aim is the passage of a bill committed to using 100 percent clean electricity by 2020.
"We are trying to send a message that we refuse to sleep in dorms and houses that are powered by dirty energy," Hogan said. "We want our legislature to recognize that we are serious about finding a solution to climate change."
On Sunday night, another seven Tufts students traveled to Boston Common and camped out with approximately 75 other college students and community members, according to sophomore Sarabeth Buckley, a coordinator for the Tufts' branch of the Leadership Campaign. They woke up on Monday morning to lobby at the State House.
"There was just so much energy there," Buckley said. "People were so excited to take action and have a real effect on the legislature."
Tufts students plan to sleep out on the Academic Quad Mondays through Saturdays and in Boston Common on Sundays until the bill is passed or until the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from Dec. 7-18.
The Campaign hopes that by passing strong climate legislation in Massachusetts, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) can use the state's example to gain legitimacy when representing United States at the conference. Kerry will be one of the principal negotiators at the conference.
"We are going to sleep out as long as it takes to get the bill we want passed in Massachusetts or until the Copenhagen conference in December," said senior Sarah Yoss, Tufts' campus coordinator.
Though Tufts students will be sleeping on the Academic Quad, they hope their efforts make waves among legislators.
"Our main agenda is to get the attention of Sen. Kerry and Gov. Patrick," Hogan said. "We want Senator Kerry to bring whatever promise we make in Massachusetts to Copenhagen this winter to show that the U.S. is committed to solving climate change."
Kerry, one of the authors of the recently introduced Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, has been a strong advocate of progressive climate legislation.
The senator praised the Leadership Campaign's sleep-out efforts.
"This kind of grassroots activism sends a strong message across Massachusetts that climate change must be addressed now, not years from now," Kerry told the Daily in an e-mail through an office spokesperson. "The best way to do that is by passing the comprehensive legislation we're writing in the Senate that secures our clean-energy future and protects and creates jobs. I look forward to continuing the fight to ensure that the United States becomes the world's leader on climate action."
Junior Sally Sharrow, who serves as the Boston community outreach coordinator for the Leadership Campaign, emphasized that the United States needs to take action on climate legislation before the U.N. conference in Denmark.
"There is a big collective action problem surrounding climate change right now, and if the U.S. fails to take leadership on the climate front, then there will be major issues in Copenhagen this winter," Sharrow said.
Tufts' campaign coordinators have recruited individuals and groups throughout campus to participate in the sleep-outs.
"We are trying to get as many teams and campus groups involved as possible," Yoss said. "It's a great way to create more of a community. Groups have an opportunity to get to spend time together and bond while supporting a good cause."
Hogan said the group hopes to enlighten students across campus on the need for environmental action.
"We are aiming to raise awareness among students about important environmental issues and get them involved in our campaign," Hogan said. "We want to make this a community effort."
