While David Moore, director of Physical Plant and Construction Services states that all areas of Cerritos College at night are “adequately illuminated, ” students that have classes at night seem to have a different opinion.
“Last year, a campus-wide night tour was conducted with the campus police and ASCC; all areas were found to be adequately illuminated,” Moore said.
Although there were light inspections conducted as stated by Moore, students still feel unsecure and uncomfortable walking around school at night.
Brianna Grantley, a sociology major, said she has been thinking about saying something about the lack of lighting there is at night when she gets out of her class.
“I hate it. I hate it redundantly. I don’t have anyone to walk with at night, so I feel really uncomfortable with the absence of light, especially when going to the parking lot. I always pretend I am talking on the phone when someone looks suspicious; either I take out my phone so he can see I have it out or I act like if I’m talking to someone on it.
“Last semester, I saw police twice, but that’s it; no more than that. I almost bought pepper spray, just in case, because it is really scary,” she said.
Like Grantley, many students have only “thought” about saying something about it, but not enough students have spoken up.
Interim Police Chief Tom Galivan said it is all about communicating.
“Our job is that if our officers see something that can constitute as possibly not enough lighting or there should be more lighting, we’ll communicate that to Facilities. If anyone on campus is concerned about lighting, I would encourage (that person) to contact (his) student senate. It’s all about communication.
“What one person may perceive as adequate lighting, somebody else may not. It’s all about the open light of communication.”
While there are people that don’t care how it is at night, the number of students feeling uncomfortable walking around campus at night is seemingly higher.
Psychology major Vivian Cisneros said that she normally tries to take her mind off how dark it is at night by getting on her phone or walking fast.
“I power walk or get on my phone. I park on the main parking all the way in the back and I just speed it.
“Usually, there’s about two or three students walking to their car, and there is never any police or anything out here.”
She continues, “There is that little police building by the parking lot, but it’s not very helpful.”
As well as Cisneros, cosmetology major Jesenia Jacobo said she also speed walks and sometimes even runs to where there is a bit of light or cars.
“I would totally love it if the school would put more lights by the library area or some coming from the Santa Barbara Building, because there (are) no lights around there,” Jacobo said.
Galivan said Facilities is great and that the people there are responsive.
“If someone tells us that there is a concern about the lighting or an officer tells us lights should be a little bit stronger in some areas, then we’ll relay that to Facilities.”
Moore said that this last year, the new lights were assessed by an electrical engineer through a lighting survey.
When it comes to lighting structures, the only new ones implemented recently have been the ones out at Falcon Square.
