Spring Break
Lighting walk reveals several dark spots around campus
Christina Cannon
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Campus
09/23/08 - Students walking around the University of Rhode Island at night may notice that URI has become a brighter campus for those out and about after dark.
Last night Student Senate members, along with campus officials and URI police and security officers, strolled the campus to identify dark areas and lights that were not functioning.
On Wednesday, Senate conducted a preliminary walk and said since then, some issues had been rectified, and others have abounded.
Several streetlights have since been replaced, improving conditions on campus pathways.
The team discovered, however, that more unlit streetlights were present than before, as well as several unlit emergency call boxes.
Robert Drapeau, director of security, explained that it is common for some of the lights to go out when they overheat.
As the safety inspection group was walking around Wednesday night, the blue light on top of the emergency box outside Eddy hall went out, then shortly after came back on. The emergency box located near the Terrace Apartments is also out of order. When tested, even though the red light is out on the emergency box, the call button will still work and the light will flash.
In addition, the team noticed the instruction manual for a new emergency call box in front of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity has been stolen since Wednesday's walk.
New blue lights and emergency phones were also purchased and installed during the summer.
Other dim spots included the Visitors Center, the sidewalk between Quinn and Pastore halls and the staff parking lot across from the Memorial Union, near the Terrace Apartments.
"Campus Avenue gets a lot of complaints because there are virtually no lights," Officer Mark Cherino said.
Last year, three lights in front of Swan Hall weren't lit. That problem has since been rectified, said campus affairs chairwoman Amanda LaRocca.
"There are a lot of night classes in Swan Hall," she said. "It is important that the area is well lit."
Aside from that, a stream of streetlights on University borders remain unlit because they are not in URI's jurisdiction, and therefore maintained by private companies.
During the summer some 19 lights were replaced with newer models, however not all of them have been installed because Telecom hasn't called the University back.
"I don't know the cost of lighting the university at night, but it is worth it because it keeps people safe," LaRocca said.
A final report of the safety light walk will be available in the Student Senate office later this week. Those with question may contact LaRocca by e-mail at amandaglarocca@gmail.com.
Last night Student Senate members, along with campus officials and URI police and security officers, strolled the campus to identify dark areas and lights that were not functioning.
On Wednesday, Senate conducted a preliminary walk and said since then, some issues had been rectified, and others have abounded.
Several streetlights have since been replaced, improving conditions on campus pathways.
The team discovered, however, that more unlit streetlights were present than before, as well as several unlit emergency call boxes.
Robert Drapeau, director of security, explained that it is common for some of the lights to go out when they overheat.
As the safety inspection group was walking around Wednesday night, the blue light on top of the emergency box outside Eddy hall went out, then shortly after came back on. The emergency box located near the Terrace Apartments is also out of order. When tested, even though the red light is out on the emergency box, the call button will still work and the light will flash.
In addition, the team noticed the instruction manual for a new emergency call box in front of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity has been stolen since Wednesday's walk.
New blue lights and emergency phones were also purchased and installed during the summer.
Other dim spots included the Visitors Center, the sidewalk between Quinn and Pastore halls and the staff parking lot across from the Memorial Union, near the Terrace Apartments.
"Campus Avenue gets a lot of complaints because there are virtually no lights," Officer Mark Cherino said.
Last year, three lights in front of Swan Hall weren't lit. That problem has since been rectified, said campus affairs chairwoman Amanda LaRocca.
"There are a lot of night classes in Swan Hall," she said. "It is important that the area is well lit."
Aside from that, a stream of streetlights on University borders remain unlit because they are not in URI's jurisdiction, and therefore maintained by private companies.
During the summer some 19 lights were replaced with newer models, however not all of them have been installed because Telecom hasn't called the University back.
"I don't know the cost of lighting the university at night, but it is worth it because it keeps people safe," LaRocca said.
A final report of the safety light walk will be available in the Student Senate office later this week. Those with question may contact LaRocca by e-mail at amandaglarocca@gmail.com.
