Lighting Tour on Campus Reveals Few Fresh Needs

Electric Systems, the section of the Division of Facilities Services that maintains the lighting throughout the University, has been sponsoring the walk for about 10 years.

This semester's tour focused heavily on North Campus lighting, and participants noted only a few areas for improvement.

Typically, turnout of University officials on the lighting tour has been higher. But this year, only one employee of the Department of Public Safety attended. Several student government representatives also were in attendance.

Mary Fox, construction parking manager at DPS, said the lighting tours have been extremely effective in improving lighting on campus. Every semester when officials take the tour, they can see the new adjustments and lights that have stemmed from it.

"No amount of light can make some areas safe," said Phil Mazarick of Electric Systems. "We don't try to light everything like daylight."

Places that are wooded heavily, like the area near Kenan Stadium, are almost impossible to light, but the University also doesn't want to take away from the feel of the campus by lighting everything, he said.

"Most freshman live on South Campus, and that's our main concern," said Derwin Dubose, co-coordinator of the Freshman Focus Council.

Dubose said that because of construction, many students' walking routes have changed. The construction around the Ramshead project has been extremely problematic for students trying to get to South Campus.

He said that the new route students take leads to Chase Dining Hall and that the area in question is not well-lit.

"From this tour, I think they've done a good job," said junior Nathan Cherry. "I think they need to ensure that they maintain the lights already in existence."

One of the most noted problematic areas on campus each tour is the area between Lenoir Dining Hall and Davis Library, which receives a high volume of night traffic. Mazarick said that ground lighting cannot be added in the area because of irrigation systems and that building lighting would be extremely expensive because of the need to drill into the brick walls.

Electric Systems manages thousands of lights, most of which are high pressure sodium lights averaging about $20 a bulb. Campus lights are on photocontrol, which means they run from dusk until dawn.

"If you knew how many lights were on campus, it'd impress you," said Bo Smith, a power line technician with Electric Systems. Smith said that University employees work to fix lighting outages as quickly as possible and that they usually have burnt-out bulbs replaced within a matter of hours.

In 1996, Electric Systems put in the main lighting corridor from central campus to Morrison Residence Hall on South Campus and has since added thousands of lights as student complaints come in and as construction occurs.

Students who see a light that is burnt out are encouraged to report it. Pole light outages can be reported by calling 962-8394. Most pole lights have a number located on the pole that can be extremely helpful in locating the light, and students are asked to report that number as well. Lights on buildings that are burnt out can be reported at 962-3456.

Fox said, "It's a huge campus, and (officials) don't know when lights are out, and if everyone participates, it'll make it better for everyone."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.