Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Ian Rosenberger said his lighting initiative is in the "implementation phase" and will "absolutely" be completed before his term ends.

He is currently working with USG Senate and the Off-Campus Student Union (OCSU) to increase lighting at fraternity houses and downtown parking lots before he makes his final case to the State College Borough Council.

Rosenberger said the borough has been very open to improving downtown lighting, but it needs someone to do the legwork. He said he wants to take some of the burden off of the borough by using other available resources, such as realtors and fraternities.

Rosenberger said he plans to talk with realtors who own poorly lit parking lots about adding lights. He said he plans to use a housing guide that will soon be distributed to students by OCSU as leverage.

"We decide who goes in that guide and who we recommend to students," Rosenberger said. "That's kind of a win on our side."

Rosenberger is working with Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Andy Hackett to draft legislation to provide downtown fraternity houses with funding for additional lighting.

Once he accomplishes these goals, he will present the results to the borough and ask them to help by paying for lights in other poorly lit areas.

USG also sponsored a walkthrough on Calder Way with the OCSU last night to talk with local business managers and to identify specific problem areas where members feel additional lighting is necessary.

The group will present the results to the borough at Monday night's meeting, Town Sen. Kristen Kofmehl said.

Kofmehl said the borough's budget for next year is already in place, so increased lighting would have to be included in the following year's budget.

"We are hoping to get a more immediate solution," Kofmehl said. "Hopefully, the borough will respond with more urgency if we only have a few areas that need help."

USG senators also sent letters to about 25 downtown businesses urging them to improve lighting in the area. Only two responded to the request.

University Book Centre Manager Bill Ryerson said he hopes a light will be installed this spring near the store's back door on Calder Way.

"We're obviously concerned about the safety of the whole community," Ryerson said. "The college students are our main customers by far. We want to do anything we can to make life better and safer for them."

He said he is "almost certain" the light will be approved in March as part of the company's budget.

Ryerson said the lack of sufficient lighting is also a safety concern for employees who enter and exit the store on Calder Way.

Kofmehl said she personally is concerned about the lighting issue because she enters her apartment through the alley.

"It is a heavily trafficked area by students," Kofmehl said. "A lot of people use it as a cut through, and it really is dark and unsafe."