As the day dims down, more than 1,000 outdoor lights illuminate campus.

Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said there are 1,253 outdoor lights on campus. He said he is not aware of any that need to be replaced.

Campus officials are planning to discuss CMU’s campus lighting in mid-October.

“We reevaluate the lighting every fall. We take a walk around campus in the evening with representatives from (Student Government Association), Facilities Management and the (CMU) Police department,” Lawrence said. “We evaluate areas with a light meter to measure the light level, then we write up a report and request funding in the next funding cycle if we need to make any improvements, additions or changes for the following year.”

Lighting around campus has been an issue in past years. In 2007, complaints about the lighting on Broomfield Road spurred the installment of 17 new lights.

SGAVice President and Kingsford senior Brad Sjoquist said lighting on campus is monitored closely by CMU.

“Lighting on campus for the most part seems to be good. The university tends to be very responsive to students needs when they identify (an) area that they think has insufficient lighting,” Sjoquist said. “They check for areas where lights are out, or lights aren’t working, or areas that seem insufficiently lit. Or if they get complaints, they’ll go out and check.

Sjoquist said the increased number of freshmen on campus this year doesn’t really produce a need for more lighting.

Associate Dean of Students Mike Owens said he has not received any complaints about the lighting on campus.

“I know (Facilities Management) is doing a good job by the lack of intense concern on anyone’s part. If they were doing a lousy job, we’d be hearing about it,” Owens said.

When evaluating campus lighting each fall, Facilities Management looks for back corners of parking lots and remote locations that are dark to add lights because it is in those places where crimes are more likely to be committed, Owens said.

“(Proper lighting is important) for convenience and safety. When we provide adequate lighting throughout the campus, we provide a safer environment both in perceived terms and in real terms. When people see darkness, they are instinctively weary of it,” Owens said.

Although CMU officials say there are no known problems with campus lighting, some students think otherwise.

Mount Clemens junior Lauren Tarmina now lives off campus but lived in Cobb Hall her freshman year.

“I used Night Rides with my roommates to get from the freshman parking lot to our dorm,” Tarmina said.

Tarmina said although she lives off campus, the lighting still needs some improvement.

“It seems kind of dark,” she said.

Emmett sophomore Lindsey Victor does not walk around campus in the dark very often, but uses Night Rides.

“The crosswalk (on Washington Street) by Robinson Hall is always really dark at night because there is no overhead light,” Victor said. “I felt a lot better using Night Rides than walking by myself.”

Owens said he encourages all students to make use of the emergency and late-night services offered by CMU. Blue light phones are located at various locations around campus and can be used to contact a police dispatcher in an emergency.

Night Rides is a service that picks up to two students up from any location on campus and transports them anywhere else on campus. The service can be reached by dialing 774-HELP (4357) between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.

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