To the editor, I am voicing my concern about the safety of NC State University’s campus. NC State has a beautiful campus with endless amounts of bricks, green courtyards and rich landscapes. The university’s main library, D.H. Hill is conveniently located on the North Campus and is open 24 hours Monday through Thursday. Sadly, NC State’s campus does not have the best lighting at night, which can hinder students from taking advantage of the university’s resources after dark due to safety concerns. The university does offer some light posts throughout campus but the lighting is very dim even in high-traffic travel areas like the Brickyard and Governors Scott Courtyard. The NCSU Police Department provides a safety escort service between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The safety escort is a great service for students but does not solve the lighting and safety issue for students before 10 p.m.

After daylight saving in the fall, sunset occurs as early as 5:30 p.m., which leaves many students traveling through campus for evening classes or dinner after sunset. According to University Housing, 78 percent of NC State’s freshman students currently live on campus and all first-year students will be required to live on campus starting the fall semester of 2017. The university should take preventative measures to ensure the safety of students by providing proper lighting, which would allow for them to focus on their studies and take advantage of the university’s resources without worrying about their safety. NC State University should improve the lighting in commonly used areas since so many students not only spend their day on campus but call it home.

Kaylee McBride, freshman, exploratory studies