This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
For more than two months, tall poles topped with lights and security cameras operated near UC Santa Barbara’s Campus Lagoon and on its West Campus. UCSB installed the lights and cameras — five 20-foot, solar-powered apparatuses — after the California Coastal Commission granted an emergency permit on January 30 to deter crime in dark parts of campus. Those lights remained in place until April 5.
A driving force for installing lighting in the area came from members of UCSB’s student government, including Associated Students President Pro-Tempore Evan Sussman. Sussman and his colleague Enri Lala, the Associated Students Internal Vice President, traveled to Sacramento in November to speak at a California Coastal Commission meeting, advocating for the emergency permits…