Political Story

Outline

1) What is the lighting initiative
a) who is involved
b) where will the lights be placed and how did areas qualify for lighting
c) what stage are we at
d) When will they be done
e) What is the cost

2) Necessary?
a)how savvier is the need for lighting (decade of trying to address lighting)
b) are all the lights necessary
c) are the decorative lights necessary

3) Safety
a) is it an issue around campus
b) will this make campus safer
C) how will students effected

While many students tend to steer clear of dark, unlit areas around campus Chase M. Gunnell, ASWSU director of Greek affairs, along with others where trying to do just the opposite. At 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, the group searched around campus for poorly lit areas to create an updated lighting proposal.

ASWSU along with the city of Pullman and Avista are working together to provide surrounding areas of campus with ample lighting in highly trafficked areas Gunnell said. They also are looking to make sure that there is nothing obscuring the already provided lighting he said.

Gunnell said ASWSU hopes to add Avista common street lights to the corner of Garfield, Indiana, and Oak streets. One street Gunnell said that greatly needs addressed is B Street because of its insufficient lighting and excessive tree cover. He said the proposal also includes lighting between Oak and Opal streets as well as between Oak and Ruby streets. Lighting is also needed between Oak and Ash streets. Other places ASWSU wants to address is Maiden Lane between Spaulding and Maple streets. Gunnell said currently lighting for these areas will be funded by the city of Pullman.

ASWSU strongly believes that alleyways are lacking lighting the most and needed to be addressed, specifically between Colorado and Campus streets and between Ruby and Howard streets Gunnell said. He said while the city will not be funding lighting in alleyways these two areas need to be addressed. Gunnell said ASWSU is working with Avista and local Greek houses, landowners, and property managers to put up flood lights to light these areas. These lights would be funded by ASWSU he said.

Decorative lighting would also be installed. One would be placed across from the President’s Mansion on Campus Street and on Colorado Street between Adams Mall and Monroe Street Gunnell said. These areas will be surveyed by Avista and depending on the ground conditions of the location, the decorative lights can cost anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 dollars he said. The cost will help decide the locations and the number of decorative lights that will be put up he said.

ASWSU plans to use about 31,000 dollars earned at last years Safety Banquet on improving lighting Gunnell said.

The lighting initiative is currently in the stages of getting all of the locations approved by the city and Avista Gunnell said.

“We are finally getting all of the players at the table and getting things done,” Gunnell said.

Mark Workman, Pullman Public Works director, said they are currently looking at all of the locations and making sure the proposal is meeting the needs and requirements of the city. He also said the city is working on the memorandum agreement with WSU and Avista.

Gunnell said everything is still in the early stages of planning but he hopes the project will be underway by next summer.

Lighting around campus has been a topic of concern for decades said Workman. He said the lighting initiative is a priority of the city.

“We are very aggressive about lighting on campus,” Workman said.

While the lighting initiative is important, Workman believes that not all the lighting requested may be necessary. He said there were some areas that seemed to be sufficiently lit but agrees that B Street is a concern.

Gunnell said all the lights requested are necessary. He said ASWSU wants to tackle this issue fully so they can prevent it from becoming and issue again in the future.

“I don‘t think when it comes to student safety you can be too safe,” Gunnell said.

ASWSU Executive Intern Jessica Hart agreed. “Safety isn’t a luxury it is a necessity,” Hart said

When asked if the decorative lights were necessary Gunnell said yes. By putting a plaque about the project on them the public is aware of what ASWSU is doing. Hart said by adding the decorative lighting around campus they would be adding property value.

Hart said she does not believe safety is an issue around campus but by adding more lighting they would be preventing it from becoming an issue. Both Hart and Gunnell agree that poorly lit areas promote crime and are a safety hazard for students. Gunnell said by adding more lighting they would be improving the climate for students. Hart said implementing the lighting initiative would allow students who travel on and around campus at night and feel safe.


Contacts
Chase M. Gunnell, ASWSU director of Greek affairs (Interviewed in person)
chasegunnell@wsu.edu
www.aswsu.wsu.edu

Mark Workman. Pullman Public Works director
509-338-3213
mark.workman@pullman-wa.gov

ASWSU Executive Intern Jessica Hart
509-496-7582
jesshart@wsu.edu