The new Mall lights allow students to see properly at night, providing safety. Photo by Adam Cvik.
BRITTANY BLUTHARDT | STAFF REPORTER | bbluthar@butler.edu
New LED lights shine brightly on the paths between academic buildings, residence halls and the Atherton Mall. Students are no longer in the dark. The installments are part of an effort by Butler University’s Office of Operations, BUPD and SGA to increase student safety on campus and improve the standard of lights.
Installation of a dozen hooded light poles around the main quad began at the end of summer, and all lights should be completed and working by finals week.
Some areas of campus, such as near Atherton Mall, were not lit at all. Lights would shine directly at trees rather than the pathways.
Melissa Evans is a sophomore psychology and critical communication and media studies double major. She often walks through campus at night to attend club meetings and study at Starbucks.
“When it’s dark out at night and you’re trying to walk throughout campus, you can’t really even see the path because the lights shine at the trees,” Evans said. “When there’s a bright light right next to something, it’s even harder to see the path.”
The Student Initiatives Board of SGA includes an operations committee. The group goes on a night walk once a semester with BUPD, the director of operations, and Butler facilities to identify any safety issues.
Senior biology major Colton Junod is vice president of SGA’s Student Initiatives Board.
“We’re always concerned about student safety, especially with recent events, but one thing we want to make students aware of is that BUPD is a great resource on campus, and we really rely on them for all of our safety issues,” Junod said. “[BUPD and operations] know that lighting is a big issue.”
Some recent safety concerns include armed robberies and reported gunshots near and on campus.
Amanda Doenges, director of engineering and administration, began studying the light safety issues around a year ago.
“It’s definitely a priority of ours every year to look at what areas we can improve lighting,” she said. “If students have recommendations about areas that are of concern, please pass those forward either through SGA or facilities. We try to keep a good connection with the leaders of SGA to know what’s going on.”
The original lights were owned by Indianapolis Power and Light, and Butler would pay a monthly rental rate to use them. Now, there is a mixture of Indianapolis-owned and Butler-owned lights throughout campus. The older lights are present near Fairbanks, Jordan Hall, the Pharmacy Building and behind Holcomb Building. The new lights, located on Atherton Mall, Sunset Avenue, Lake Road (between the bell tower and the HRC) and near Fairview House are owned by Butler.
“Ideally, we’d love to replace all the existing lights on campus to our new standard,” Doenges said.
Doenges said Operations and Facilities are looking to improve other areas on campus. They are currently receiving an estimated price regarding the addition of the new lights near Jordan Hall and the wooded area between Gallahue Hall and Holcomb.
“We want students to be aware that we are working on them [lighting issues], and the administration is hearing our concerns and working towards those as well,” Junod said.
Evans, a student, said she would like better lighting near parking lots and pathways students walk through every day. Evans referenced the area between the Alpha Phi sorority house and Fairbanks as an example.
“Overall, I’d like them to aim the lights at the sidewalk, so I know where I’m going at night,” she said.
Doenges said they are looking to improve and extend the sidewalk that follows Hampton Drive up to a parking lot near Fairbanks in the future. The sidewalk currently dead ends shortly after the Alpha Phi house, and students must walk on the road in either direction, which continues on Hampton or toward Fairbanks.
The new lights are also environmentally friendly because they reduce light pollution in the area. The lights have a hooded top, so light shines directly down rather than into the sky. Doenges said this helps the Holcomb Observatory to efficiently survey the sky. The lights are dark-sky compliant, which means they do not add more light pollution in the area.
“The LED’s are a more whiter, crisper light, so it gives people more comfort and clarity rather than the yellow-ish light,” she said. “It’s not only whiter but brighter. It’s more sustainable from an energy and dark-sky compliance standpoint. The lights also help for the branding of Butler because it really cheers campus up.”
Junod said students should reach out to their SGA senator or any member of SGA regarding future safety problems.
“I think safety is really important because we are a small campus in a big city, so sometimes the big city can attract individuals to our campus,” Junod said. “I think we’re an extremely safe campus and these lights further that to make students feel comfortable.”
