New ECO Beverage Card to provide free rewards on campus 

In an Oct. 12 press release, the University announced the introduction of the new ECO Beverage Card to kick off Waste Reduction Week at Queen’s. 

Waste Reduction Week lasted from Oct. 15-19 and worked to promote new sustainability initiatives on campus while engaging the student body. 

Some new initiatives include reducing single serve cups and lids used at different retailers on campus and the use of the Beverage Card to incentivize reusable mugs. 

The Cards are available at 10 different locations on campus: The Lazy Scholar, Goodes Café, Gord’s Fresh Café, The Library Café, Location 21, Market Street, Recharge, West Campus Dining Hall, Mac-Correy Dining Hall, and Student Street Express. 

For every hot beverage purchased with a sustainable mug, students can earn one stamp on their Beverage Card. After seven purchased, students get one free hot coffee or tea. 

In The Gazette, Associate Director of Housing & Ancillary Services Jennifer Pete, said, “Our goal is to increase the use of reusable mugs from five per cent last year to 20 per cent this year.” 

“If we reach our goal, and sell the same amount of coffee and tea as we did last year, we will divert over 23,000 disposable cups from recycling streams and landfills.”

Kingston Police gear up for Homecoming 

This weekend, Queen’s Homecoming will see a “large contingence of officers to work the event,” according to a Kingston Police press release from Oct. 18. 

Kingston Police will collaborate with the City of Kingston and the University to ensure the safety of students and community residents during the weekend events. 

“With the assistance of our City of Kingston partners we will be utilizing the Nuisance Party By-Law and University District Safety Initiative to help ensure the safety of our community,” the statement read. 

The Nuisance Party By-Law and University District Safety Initiative have been in effect in the Kingston community for less than a year now. Students could receive fees surpassing $600 dollars for throwing or attending house parties deemed “nuisances” under the judgement of police on and off the scene. 

If ticketed, students will also be compelled to be in court for their ticket-hearings.

Kingston Police plan to work with the City and the University to ensure the safety of students and community residents during the weekend events. 

According to the Press Release, officers will be present in, “cruisers on foot, and on bicycles, engaging students while working to keep sidewalks and roadways open.”