The maintenance of lighting on campus is important to students walking to and from class late at night, and the Department of Public Safety said they feel lighting needs are being met quickly and efficiently.

Loras Jaeger, director of DPS, said officers do an annual walk on campus to check for burned-out lights and to assess areas that need additional lighting.

“On an annual basis, we work with facilities planning and management and student affairs to do a complete assessment of lights on campus, in parking lots and around residence halls,” he said. “The biggest concern on campus is the maintenance of lights.”

Jaeger said officers also check to make sure vegetation, such as bushes and trees, do not interfere with sidewalk lighting.

Students and night officers periodically check lights on campus in addition to the annual assessment, he said.

In the summer, Jaeger said, DPS does an assessment to determine what areas need additional lighting. Beach Avenue was one of the sites examined during the summer, and DPS found that additional lighting was needed for students walking from the Iowa State Center parking lots to the residence halls.

“We receive advice from student groups throughout the year on areas that need more lighting,” he said.

Liz Murdock, sophomore in exercise and sport science, said she believes campus is lit fairly well, but a couple of areas still need improvement.

She said occasionally there are lights out along the sidewalk from Beardshear Hall to Curtiss Hall. Another dark area, she said, is under the bridge by the parking ramp at the Memorial Union. She said she doesn’t like walking on campus at night.

“When it’s dark, it lets your imagination wander more,” she said. “I’m constantly thinking people are going to jump out at me.”

Dale Hittle, sophomore in elementary education, said a few places on campus are too dark, but, unlike Murdock, he said he isn’t afraid of these areas.

“I’m pleased overall with most lighting on campus,” he said. “I probably feel more safe being a guy.”

He agreed that the area between Beardshear Hall and Curtiss Hall can be pretty dark at times. However, he said all the residence halls are well-lit.

Jackie Knutson, sophomore in psychology, said she is also apprehensive of certain areas on campus, especially between Durham Hall and Parks Library and in front of Pearson and Marston Halls.

“Overall, I think campus is lit very well,” she said. “Some buildings away from central campus are not lit as well and are a little scary to walk around.”

Doug Houghton, DPS parking division manager, said if students have any lighting concerns, they can contact DPS or Iowa State’s Transportation Advisory Council.

He said if students notice a burned-out light, they should record the identification number found on the light pole.

“Feel free to contact the Transportation Advisory Council about your concerns,” he said. “These people are here to help you.”

Houghton said all campus lighting projects are funded by DPS and the Government of the Student Body.

“Historically, these lighting issues have been so important that GSB has funded [them],” he said, adding that the parking division funds the lighting for campus parking lots. “It’s really an engineering process to design lighting to cover every square foot of a lot.

“The parking division will only step in to improve the current lighting situation,” he said.

Houghton said Lot 114, north of Hawthorn Court, recently received four to five light poles funded by the parking division. They were placed on the west side of the lot for guests walking to the apartment complex after dark.