I've been invited to a few discussions seeking student input on how to make the university better. One of the main things is that UCSD wants to get rid of the UC Socially Dead stigma and have more people outside studying.

The university has tried to solve this--in old student center they have tables with umbrellas that have lights and heaters in them with outlets nearby. During the wellness fair event, they gave out free picnic blankets. They installed more hammocks along library walk.

All of this to encourage students to touch grass at least once but still no one studies outside.

Obviously, there's a lot of factors contributing to why it seems that there's so few people outside such as the fact the architecture was designed to prevent large student gatherings for protests.

However, I think another big reason no one is outside is the lack of shade.

There is no large grassy area on campus that has a large shaded area, either from a big tree or a building. The other college campuses I visited--SDSU and UCLA--had so many people out and studying, all of them sitting under the shade of trees.

The sun is bright and we can't see our laptop screens. Also the sun is hot. UCSD please put more trees that provide shade.

(I specify trees instead of shade structures because trees feel less like you're outside and not inside a building and also trees lets the sun in at some parts so no artificial lights are needed. Shade structures are a start though).