2008 Woodie Awards
Safer Lighting Installed
Campus officials react to growing student and faculty lighting concerns.
Tiffany Farmakis
Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: News
In response to an ongoing student and faculty unease about the exterior lighting on campus, Valley College has embarked upon a new lighting project to replace 104 light poles and erect four new light poles which will be placed north of the Arts building and west of the Administration building.
"The lighting on campus could be a lot better," said business management major, P. Perera. "There are areas on campus that get really dark and students enrolled in a night class are entitled to feel safe."
Campus officials agree with students' concerns after having received complaints from students and faculty about the lack of outdoor lighting on campus.
"A few students and faculty members had some concerns and we acted on them," said Tom Jacobsmeyer, vice president of administration at Valley College. "We put lights in the areas where students had the most concerns and that were a little dark."
In May 2002, 110 10-foot light poles were installed throughout the campus. Now showing signs of age, the plastic coating on the poles has begun to crack and rust through.
"The light poles we had installed a couple years ago have a coating that isn't working properly," said Jacobsmeyer. "We replaced all the steel poles with aluminum."
The new lights are part of the campus renovation plan. According to Jacobsmeyer, extensive re-lighting of the campus can't occur until more campus renovations are done.
"I think it's great that campus officials are putting in new lighting," said Valley student Adriana Ananian. "As an art major, I avoided taking classes at night because that area was so dark and many classes run late. During the fall, it gets dark before classes let out. I hate having to walk to my car at night - it's a very frightful experience."
Work has already begun on the north end of the campus by the Music and Art buildings.
"Dr. Wieder got involved and discovered the darker areas on campus," said Lopez. "We're adding additional lighting to illuminate those darker areas."
Lopez also asks that students not walk through the areas where construction has begun.
Officials take students security seriously at the college.
"Everyone is concerned about having adequate lighting in the evenings for our students, faculty and staff," said Valley President Tyree Wieder. "We are constantly checking the current lighting grid to be sure that we don't have lights out."
"[The new lighting] will help students and faculty," said Jacobsmeyer. "More likely, this will help students taking night classes feel safer."
"The lighting on campus could be a lot better," said business management major, P. Perera. "There are areas on campus that get really dark and students enrolled in a night class are entitled to feel safe."
Campus officials agree with students' concerns after having received complaints from students and faculty about the lack of outdoor lighting on campus.
"A few students and faculty members had some concerns and we acted on them," said Tom Jacobsmeyer, vice president of administration at Valley College. "We put lights in the areas where students had the most concerns and that were a little dark."
In May 2002, 110 10-foot light poles were installed throughout the campus. Now showing signs of age, the plastic coating on the poles has begun to crack and rust through.
"The light poles we had installed a couple years ago have a coating that isn't working properly," said Jacobsmeyer. "We replaced all the steel poles with aluminum."
The new lights are part of the campus renovation plan. According to Jacobsmeyer, extensive re-lighting of the campus can't occur until more campus renovations are done.
"I think it's great that campus officials are putting in new lighting," said Valley student Adriana Ananian. "As an art major, I avoided taking classes at night because that area was so dark and many classes run late. During the fall, it gets dark before classes let out. I hate having to walk to my car at night - it's a very frightful experience."
Work has already begun on the north end of the campus by the Music and Art buildings.
"Dr. Wieder got involved and discovered the darker areas on campus," said Lopez. "We're adding additional lighting to illuminate those darker areas."
Lopez also asks that students not walk through the areas where construction has begun.
Officials take students security seriously at the college.
"Everyone is concerned about having adequate lighting in the evenings for our students, faculty and staff," said Valley President Tyree Wieder. "We are constantly checking the current lighting grid to be sure that we don't have lights out."
"[The new lighting] will help students and faculty," said Jacobsmeyer. "More likely, this will help students taking night classes feel safer."
