University of Virginia Library

Improved Lighting And Sidewalk
Conditions Listed As 'Priorities'

By PATTI KYLE
and PARKES BRITTAIN

Photo by Jay Adams

Students walking along Newcomb Road may soon have a sidewalk.

The University may install the walkway in order to alleviate the safety hazard caused by students and cars.

The University community can look
forward to improved lighting and
sidewalk conditions here on the Grounds.
The Committee on Security and General
Safety has listed these two areas as
"priorities" in their analysis of the
allocation of funds for the promotion of
security and safety at the University.

The committee has appointed two
subcommittees, to deal with outside
lighting and sidewalks, which will make
their official recommendations to the
committee in December.

The Outside Lighting Subcommittee is
investigating specific "dark spots" on the
Grounds which have been the subjects of
a number of student complaints to the
Security Department. The complaints are
registered largely by female students who
have expressed trepidation brought on by
the assaults of this year.

Primary Targets

Primary targets of investigation are the
Alderman Library area walks and the
Memorial Gymnasium area walks, as well
as the walk between Monroe Hill House
and Peabody Hall, the walk leading from
the Garrett Hall area behind Monroe Hall,
the parking lot between Maury Hall and
Cabell Hall, the Lawn crosswalks leading
from the Randall Hall area to Garrett
Hall, and the grassy area at the north end
of Cocke Hall.

The subcommittee is also researching
the various types of outdoor lighting,
specifically the low-lighting technique in
contrast to the high, bright-lighting
technique found in abundance on the
Grounds.

A study prepared by Waller S. Hunt,
Jr., chairman of the subcommittee,
indicates that brighter lighting, such as
the "mercury-vapour" pole lamps located
at Garrett Hall, tends to cause night
blindness for the pedestrian. The
high-wattage bulbs provide a greatly
illuminated sphere of light in the
immediate vicinity, but the shadowed
areas outside the sphere are consequently
exaggerated a great deal.

The study cites examples to verify its
claims such as a downtown residential
sidewalk in Williamsburg which utilizes
the low-light technique with success in
creating a generally illuminated area.
Experiments with this technique are now
being conducted at various locations
throughout the University.

Other Areas Considered

Other areas under consideration for
improved lighting are Newcomb Road
immediately west of Newcomb Hall, the
walks between the east side of the
Monroe Hill Houses and the stone wall
behind Monroe Hill, Newcomb Road west
of the Monroe Hill Houses, walks and
paths from Campbell Hall to Rugby
Road, and the main walk just south of
Pavilion 10 to the cross walk along the
heating tunnel.

The Subcommittee on Sidewalks,
chaired by Mr. Main, was directed to
become familiar with existing sidewalks
on the University proper, and to note
where additions or extensions were
necessary. Their purpose is to investigate
the problem areas and establish priorities
in appealing for funds.

The ensuing report included four areas
as potentially dangerous due to lack of
paved walkways. The walk along Emmet
Street from the New Education Building
to Ivy Road is under primary
consideration as needing a paved
walkway.

A survey revealed that girls in the
Munford-Gwathmey complex used this
route to attend classes in Gilmer Hall and
the Chemistry Building. First-yearmen
also utilize Emmit Street to reach
Memorial Gym.

Connect Walkways

Intermittently paved stretches
presently exist across from the Dell and
in front of Alumni Hall. One plan is to
connect these walkways together so there
will be a continuous sidewalk on the west
side of Emmet Street from McCormick
Road to Ivy Road.

Another well-known problem area is
the strip of Newcomb Road adjacent to
the graduate dormitories, leading up to
Newcomb Hall. Heavy pedestrian and
motor traffic, especially during "dining
hours", has promulgated a hit-or-miss
attitude for many drivers. A sidewalk
extending from Venable House to the
back entrance of Newcomb Hall has been
investigated to correct this situation.

Another area given high priority is
Alderman Road, from Route 250 West to
Fontaine Avenue (where it becomes
Maury Avenue). First-year students
frequently use the shopping, eating and
laundry facilities centered near Fontaine
Avenue, requiring a dangerous trek
alongside the road.

First-yearmen are also subjected to the
"beaten path" to University Hall. The
hazards of this unpaved route will
increase when basketball season starts and
students will have to walk to and from
University Hall under heavy traffic
conditions, usually late at night.

The Subcommittee on Sidewalks,
recognizing the potential hazards
first-year pedestrians face, is considering a
recommendation to construct walkways
along Alderman Road connecting the
facilities.

As yet, none of these
recommendations have been formally
presented by the subcommittees. They
will be submitted to the Committee on
Security and General Safety in early
December. The committee report will
then be forwarded to President Shannon
for fund allocation.

"No small group of persons can see all
the problem areas on the Grounds," said
Tom Rickards of the Lighting
Subcommittee, expressing his interest in
"student input in the form of suggestions
and comments to the subcommittees."