New lights to be installed

Criminals of the night beware. IU is about to get safer. \nWith umbrellas in hand, administrators and campus officials braved the rainy weather to walk around campus for the Spring Night Walk, an event aimed at examining the adequacy of lighting on campus. Physical Plant Engineer Jim Koryta announced during the walk the planned addition of several new lights to one of the campus' darkest areas. \nThe walk, which also takes place in the fall, included representatives from Residential Programs and Services, the Physical Plant, the Office of Women's Affairs, Bloomington Professional Council, as well as Dean of Students Richard McKaig.\nCampus lights, which are set to turn on roughly 30 minutes before sunset, are controlled with a mix of light sensors and timers. \nEach semester, the group varies its path through campus, examining a portion of the close to 2,500 outdoor lights.\nThe group concentrated on the area in front of Swain Hall West, a particularly dark area of campus. A faculty member reported the area between the building and Third Street, prompting an examination by University officials. \nKoryta said IU plans to install lights in this area by the time students return to school in the fall. The plan calls for approximately six new lamp posts, each costing about $4,500 to install.\nParking Operations Manager Doug Porter said lights are placed around campus to both light up areas where students walk and to encourage students to walk certain ways. He said some improvements are "relatively easy," while others require going through different IU departments.\nMcKaig said he's seen the Spring Night Walk program change the face of IU's campus since the walks began 7-8 years ago.\n"There have been major, major changes on campus (since it began)," he said. \nThe walk was not all about criticism. The representatives praised the walkways between the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and Delta Gamma. Assistant Dean of the Office of Women's Affairs Carol McCord was pleased with the lighting, saying it was "very bright."\nAnyone with concerns regarding campus lighting is encouraged to call the Dean's Office, Parking Operations, the Office of Women's Affairs or the Physical Plant's 24-hour line at 855-8728.\n-- Contact staff writer Chris Jesse at cejesse@indiana.edu.