Measures are being taken by the Student Government Association and the University of Massachusetts Police Department to promote safety on campus by sponsoring a campus-wide walk called the Walk of Light.
The Walk of Light is an annual event, created to promote the safety of walkways on campus. During the walk, members of the UMPD, SGA, and the student body walk the paths of campus to identify places that don’t have enough lighting and to address any other safety concerns.
The two main objectives of the walk are to identify and repair areas with poor lighting, as well as to trim back overgrown bushes and trees that cause passage problems.
“We try to find the problem spots on campus,” said Mina Safain, SGA secretary of public policy and relations. “The UMPD and SGA want to protect students as much as possible.”
Volunteers are split into two groups, one covering the right side of campus and one covering the left. The entire walk usually takes anywhere from one to two hours, depending on maintenance needs. The walk begins at 6 p.m. to ensure complete darkness.
“It’s very important for students to participate. Even the UMPD doesn’t have the same perception [as the students] of what’s safe and what’s not,” said Safain.
Safain said that two years ago, the trail by the Worcester Dining Hall leading to Orchard Hill was very poorly lit. During that year’s walk, volunteers installed enough lights to illuminate the entire walkway. “Before, [the path] was horrible,” said Safain. “We trimmed a lot of overhanging bushes that were causing traffic problems. It’s much safer now.”
In the past, the Walk of Light has allowed for the installation of extra police call boxes around campus as well.
“These problems don’t take a lot to fix; you can see progress right away,” he said.
According to Safain, the Walk of Light was created partly in response to rapes and sexual assaults that were reported on the UMass campus in years past.
The Walk of Light begins on the Student Union steps tomorrow at 6 p.m. No prior registration is necessary and volunteers from both the UMass campus and the surrounding areas are welcome. The event is sponsored by the UMPD.
