Many students can relate to the experience of walking through campus at night and suddenly stumbling into complete darkness. This occurs, despite the structured lighting system with which the university is equipped, because bulbs burn out. The result is that random blocks of campus are left completely dark.
Such an environment is a safety concern for anyone who may be on campus after dusk.
Meridian Management, the university’s maintenance provider, offered an explanation for the recurring problem. A spokeswoman for the company says, “Preventive maintenance is done monthly, where officers go out and check which lights are out, and then replace the bulbs. Sometimes they aren’t noticed because the majority of our staff work during the day.”
Daryl Walton, an undergraduate at FAU, feels that campus is generally a safe environment, but the parking lots are almost always too dim. Walton, who relies on his skateboard to maneuver through campus, says, “This makes it hard to get around. I noticed the parking lot by the AC is dark.”
Alissa Beerthuis, also an undergraduate, agreed and offered this suggestion: “I think that there should be more Night Owls on campus. It is really dark near the construction sites and behind the SO buildings by the parking lots.”
The university offers a few options in case you encounter this problem at night on campus. The “Night Owls,” as Beerthuis mentioned, are an effective way to remain safe after dark if you are traveling around campus. This is an escort service that will assist you to your class, car, or dorm room via a golf cart. The service is provided to all students and faculty, free of charge. Their normal hours of operation are between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., although they vary throughout the semester. You can contact the Night Owls at 561/297-NOWL (6695).
The campus police ask that anyone traveling after dark remain safe by following the “corridors of light” on campus, as every area is not well lit. They also request that any malfunctioning lights be reported to the maintenance staff as soon as possible by contacting the Office of Work Control at 561/297-2240. They will file a report and defer the problem to the proper authority.
Besides the common recommendations of keeping your car and dorm room doors locked and using the buddy system whenever on campus at night, they recommend having your key and door access cards ready to use. Also, calling your destination ahead of time to let them know your route and the time of your arrival is suggested.
One important tip is to know where campus emergency phones are located throughout campus, and use them to report any safety concerns.
The campus police mainly emphasize awareness of your surroundings as the key to campus safety, whether or not the lights are working.
