The Legacy Shines on With @antilampsofmarist

Disliking on-campus lighting infrastructure has taken on a new shape as the torch has been passed from alumni to student.

Some lamps on campus don't properly illuminate walkways. Photo by Owen Whelan '27

The Instagram account @antilampsofmarist, previously held by founder Hanna Sharkey ‘24, has been bequeathed to Leizl Carlo ‘27. While Carlo continues to honor Sharkey’s original vision of publicizing Marist College’s lighting infrastructure, she is also committed to enhancing the account with her own unique additions.

The lamp debate has students on both sides debating the integrity of the design of lamps on campus. Both Carlo and Sharkey have heard positive and negative arguments about Marist’s choice in street lighting, with aesthetics, light pollution and placement all weighing in.

“The lamps on campus have a really poor design in terms of light pollution,” said Sharkey. “The globe shape they have lights the sky, in addition to everything else. Personally, I would like to see the stars.”

Carlo echoed Sharkey’s perspective on light pollution, proposing that adding a lamp shade could alleviate the issue and better illuminate campus walkways. Further concerns she added regarded the College’s spending and use of energy.

“Students pay to be here,” she said. “If energy consumption is a cost, why have the lamps contribute to that?”

The account runs on a submission system, where students direct message the @antilampsofmarist Instagram account with a photo and a comment with their concern. Carlo reviews submissions and posts them as they come in and has also received several submissions in-person.

“Running the account has opened my eyes to the fact that people can just say their problems, and someone can hear it,” said Carlo.

Carlo mentioned that, while other forums for complaints do exist, many of those come in the form of anonymous apps like YikYak or Fizz and fail to empower students to stand behind their ideas. The public Instagram account also has visibility for the entire Marist community, giving faculty and departments with the power to make a difference a chance to see student thoughts.

Sharkey seamlessly passed the account on to Carlo at a 2024 Marist alumni event, Carlo having frequently submitted photos to the account during Sharkey’s tenure. Under the new administration, Carlo hopes to highlight other issues around campus, such as the major lighting difference between Upper Fulton and Lower West.

“If anyone from Marist sees the account, I just hope they see the problem and fix it,” said Carlo. “That’s the bare minimum for expectations.”