Spooky Scary Nighttime: What Do USJ Students Think About Campus Lighting?

Written by Khang Dang

Imagine this: you’re taking a stroll on our lovely, esteemed campus in the evening when the sun is just barely setting. The wind is nice and warm on your skin, and the sun is beaming outside, illuminating the beauty of the school. Now imagine that it’s not: the sun is gone, it’s pitch black, and you could give less than two dips about how good your skin feels because you’re trying to save your own skin from the dangers of the dark.

Now, you may be saying: “Oh, the dark is a fear you have when you’re a little kid!” First of all, I get that. Secondly, I lied. The dark is terrifying, and I say this because of all the dangers that USJ has faced in the past during the night. We have had many encounters with animals walking on campus—coyotes being a common one and bears, such as on the incident of November 2, 2023! I feel like it’s very safe to say that the dark isn’t always so safe.

Now, some others would disagree with this notion. An anonymous resident explained that “lighting is pretty okay. Walking around feels pretty safe.” A commuter has claimed that “the campus is pretty well-lit up. I do feel safe walking around campus. I think we’re in a safe area.”  Others have explained that they do feel safe, but they do not enjoy the atmosphere of the dark all too much. Another commuter explained that “I felt safe walking around campus, but I did not like how dark it was. It felt ominous when no one was outside.” Another common occurrence was the belief of the campus being located in a safe area. Public safety is also a big factor because the students claim that they are very efficient. Many would argue that there is nothing to fear as we have protection all across campus.

But not everyone is on the same page. Some would argue that they do not feel as safe when they walk about campus during the night. An anonymous resident has stated that “I do not always feel safe because there are coyotes in the woods next door.” They later claimed that they live in the dorms close to the woods, meaning that walking from their car to a parking lot farther from their building isn’t as optimal as they’d like. Another anonymous resident has claimed that “you get the fear that something is gonna come out and attack you.” They claimed that being alone makes them afraid to even walk around campus when it is pitch black. They prefer to walk in groups to remedy this, but they even go about and stated that they would not have this issue if there was more lighting. Even commuters have explained they do not feel safe walking around at night because anything can happen, regardless of where you are.

Additionally, with the big topic of lighting, those blue emergency lights, otherwise known as the emergency call boxes, play an integral part to our safety. The blue emergency lights are designated to contact Public Safety in the case that anyone does feel unsafe or that they do not feel secure. Thankfully, all of the people who had been interviewed had not had to use these blue light emergency boxes. But, there was a big mix of responses when it came to the emergence of this topic. In approval of Public Safety, one student claimed “having them available gives comfort and a feeling of security because assistance is only a phone call away in an emergency.” Public Safety has been known to be efficient at their job. However, another student has described that “it is going to take them a moment to do anything if there is a chance I am being attacked by someone else.” The blue lights would likely be efficient, but the time it would take for public safety to get there would definitely vary based on the location. There was another student that claimed that no one really got a training session on how to use these blue lights. It might be simple, but it would never hurt to learn. They explained, “I would like training. No one understands what to do with the blue lights. We do not even know which lights to press.” A lot of these issues revolving around safety are pinpointed on the lighting on campus.

There are those that feel safe but still feel it is ominous whenever walking around campus at night. They talked about how some of the lights don’t even work inside or outside of campus. Some explained that the lighting is very dim, and it is spread out too far. Others felt safer inside the campus, but on the outside parts such as the parking lots and roads, they felt very unsafe.

What can we do about this? I compiled suggestions and tips from the people I interviewed, and they had all given me a few notable things they wanted to express:

1. More lighting—this might seem obvious, but in terms of more lighting, they mean something more potent. UV-battery powered lights near areas that are darker so that they can illuminate these dark areas, such as the parking lots or roads. Maybe replace the lamp posts with string lights on the sidewalks, the aesthetic is nice, but string lights would also help to show people where to go during the night when it is pitch black.
2. The installation of motion-sensor lights—this would help people to be able to see regularly. When people walk in front of motion-sensors, they can illuminate the way in front of them. It also helps people to see others around without surprise.
3. The regular schedule to repair lights and make sure to have them up-to-date. Some of the lights go off, and it is essential to understand it is not just exclusively exterior. Regardless, we should keep up to date with the lighting.

The responses were a mixture. I initially believed that there would be more negative connotation when it came to the lighting on campus. But it seemed that there was a mix between commuters and residents who expressed either side. One thing they can agree on is the need for change. There needs to be updates on the lighting because even if it is effective or ineffective, there needs to be regular scheduling and assessment on what the students want.

All their voices have been called. It is up to whatever the school decides to do next (hopefully soon too. Walking from the chapel feels like I’m walking 200 miles to my dorm.)

Feature Photograph: Khang Dang