Lighting may improve

Recommendations to improve campus lighting will be considered this week, said Scott Charmack, associate vice president of Physical Planning and Facilities Management.

Charmack announced last Monday that an independent firm was hired by the university to evaluate the lighting in an effort to reduce the number of dark areas on campus.

Improvements will be made as soon as the recommendations are given, Charmack said.

The action was triggered by last week's campus walk by Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson and the Women's Resource Center.

The walk was designed to find dark areas of the campus that may be considered dangerous.

"When evening classes are over, this campus can be quite deserted, and the darkness does not make it any easier for female students who want to reach their cars safely," said Eve Oishi, women's studies assistant professor.

The center gave Maxson, along with several University Police officers, students, faculty and staff members, an hourlong tour of possible danger spots on campus last Monday at 9 p.m.

"The campus in its entirety should be safe and all students should feel safe throughout the campus," said student walker Mayumi Matsuka, a senior women's studies major.

There were five spots in particular that the walkers pointed out, particularly on Lower Campus, near the Engineering and Design buildings and the Friendship Walk. On Upper Campus, the area between the Fine Arts and Peterson Hall buildings were also noted as dark and isolated.

"I often get nervous walking to my car alone at night," said one female sophomore English major who asked to remain anonymous. "The streetlights are pretty dim, and few and far between, for that matter."

The campus meets the criteria for proper lighting by national standards, said University Police Chief Jack Pearson. But there are other factors involved in upgrading lighting.

"The lights get dirty, and often need to be cleaned, which can make the lights dimmer," Pearson said. "And the many trees on campus can get in the way of the lighting, so over Christmas break we trimmed the trees back."

Women's center director Marcela Chavez said she understands where money might be an issue, but it is an important area that should be focused on by the university.

"This is a vast campus, and there are lots of places to hide," Chavez said.
Chavez, who originally proposed the walk to Maxson's office, said because it takes a state legislative act for the university to acquire the funding for additional lighting, she felt Maxson should get involved in the crusade.

"We would be happy to do an evening walk-through of the campus with Maxson and look for areas that are especially dark and intimidating," Chavez said in February. "That way, we as a university can objectively evaluate if we should try to get more lighting installed."

Taking advantage of the CSULB escort service is one way students can alleviate a possible attack, said Sgt. Bonnie Myers, coordinator for the University Police escort service. Escorts offer rides to cars and accompany students by foot to any destination on campus.

"More and more women are going to college, especially at night," Myers said.

Myers has some advice to female students.

"Crooks look for the easiest and most susceptible target," she said. "Do what you can not to be a target.  Keep your eyes on your surroundings."

Most often, bad habits make someone a target for assault, said University Police officer Daniel Valdez.

"Not paying attention, and not noticing those around you on a constant basis is a bad habit that you can fall into again and again," Valdez said.