TO THE EDITOR:

As a parent of a Georgetown student, I am extremely concerned about the dim lighting in many areas of campus, especially with the many crimes that take place on and near the campus — those we hear about and those we don’t. It is just a reality, in a major metropolitan area like D.C., that crime will spill into any neighborhood, no matter how upscale. When my son started as a freshman, I noticed the shadowy corners around the library and steps leading down to the street and the dimly lit paths to big, dark, hulking classroom buildings. I assumed, naively, that the administration was working on upgrades that would add some light and a measure of safety, or at least some peace of mind. With students walking around at all hours of the night, it seemed obvious that something needed to be done. But a year later, when I returned to campus, I didn’t see any changes — only the increase in crime that is plaguing big cities and college campuses across the nation. The need for safety of our students and children cannot be underestimated. I’d like to see students take up the charge and press for brighter, more energy-efficient lighting — and more of it. If Georgetown can afford to build a new science center and a new business school building, then money can be found to shed light on a dim situation.

Carolyn Burke

Philadelphia, Pa.

Dec. 1, 2007