(Updated: Feb. 8, 2019) As announced at a recent meeting of the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE), Queen’s is creating a dedicated space on campus for Queen’s student groups working to advance social justice and inclusion. Located at 140 Stuart St., the property – known by the campus community as “The Cottage” or the “Yellow House” – will open for use this spring.

“We’re pleased to make the Yellow House available for undergraduate and graduate clubs whose mandates promote equity and inclusion on campus,” says Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion.) “Many students have expressed a need for additional club space that is reliable, safe, and comfortable, so this is another great step in our ongoing efforts to support a more welcoming and diverse campus.”

The space will include a kitchen, social and work areas, as well as rooms for equity-promoting clubs ratified by either the Alma Mater Society (AMS) or the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS). To determine how the space is allocated, Dr. Shearer’s office will soon invite Expressions of Interest, which will be reviewed by a UCARE subcommittee to prioritize the requests. The committee will include representatives from the AMS, SGPS, and the Division of Student Affairs, as well as Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion) Stephanie Simpson, and Dr. Shearer.

“The new club facility will provide a centralized hub for social justice activities open to all students,” Dr. Shearer says. “This shared space will help nurture conversation and collaboration between students and student groups, serve as a centre for peer mentoring, education, and workshops, and promote equity and diversity within our campus community. Every effort will be made to accommodate as many interested clubs as possible.”

Further information and application materials can be found on the Inclusive Queen's website.

Established in late 2017, UCARE coordinates, monitors, and reports on the progress of university-wide initiatives to address racism and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, as outlined in a report by the Principal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (PICRDI) issued the year prior. These initiatives are both part of the greater Inclusive Queen’s effort, alongside programs championing greater accessibility, wellness, Indigenous supports, gender and sexuality supports, and more.