Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

News

Students, staff take a walk for safety

Complaints about lighting, broken call boxes were voiced 
during Wednesday's Walk in the Dark

by JENNIFER EARLY
The Daily Cougar

Faculty, staff and students participated in the Walk in the Dark tour with UH Department of Public Safety and UH Plant Operations, exploring areas on campus in need of additional lighting and extra security Wednesday.

"(UHDPS) needs to know what students feel unsafe about. (UHDPS) needs input from students. For one thing, it shows the University does listen and take (students') concerns," UH Police Department chief Malcolm Davis said.

The fourth annual Walk in the Dark tour began in front of the University Center, and participants were split into four groups to cover geographic areas UH police patrol on campus.

Participants in Group 4 focused on residential areas at UH and were led by Davis and Dave Irvin, associate vice president for Plant Operations.

Davis said the Walk in the Dark tour is UH's way of putting its money where its mouth is in terms of public safety.

Lighting and security concerns voiced from participants in Group 4 include inefficient lighting toward the back of parking lots 1A and 9C, a malfunctioning call box near Taub Hall and lack of lighting on sidewalk paths across Wheeler Street near UH Entrance 1.

Participants also pointed out light post outages, and Irvin said most UH light posts are now numbered and a customer service telephone number is posted on each post for students to report outages.

"(Plant Operations) tries to get the lights replaced if they're burned out. But (students) are probably going to notice before (Plant Operations) does," Irvin said. "(The call) doesn't have to just be for lighting. Anything that has to do with facilities or parking on campus, (students) can call (the contact) number and give information."

Plant Operations compiles all comments from the walk, prioritizes them and begins improvements as soon as possible, Irvin said.

As a result of previous walks, Plant Operations has spent more than $2 million on lighting projects, which includes improving lighting on sidewalks and in parking lots. UH now has 1,287 lights, an increase of 356 lights from 2003.

Over the past 18 months, Plant Operations spent $881,460 on security cameras, bringing the total number of cameras to 252. Also, 80 emergency call boxes are currently installed on campus, and 12 new call boxes will be ready by the end of 2006.

Student Government Association College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Sen. Naomi Viescas said the walks have vastly improved lighting at UH and have helped students feel more secure.

"It's important for the SGA to know how safe the students are. When the University is moving to have more evening classes, it's (SGA's) responsibility to make sure that safety requirement is met," Viescas said.

To report a light outage or report any other problems, call Plant Operations at (713) 743-4948.

Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu