New informational signs are being installed across Ammerman after the Student Government Association’s Public Safety Committee raised concerns about students struggling to navigate the campus.
“When students first came to campus, they were easily lost,” said SGA Vice President Michelle Galeas, 18, of Central Islip. “We have signs on campus, but they’re mostly for disabled access. Not everyone wants to walk up the ramps, and a lot of students end up guessing their way around.”
Galeas said the idea started during discussions with committee chairs Ellianna Tyree and Briseyda Soto. Galeas added that the existing online map also contributes to the confusion. “When I first got here, I had to use Google Maps to get to my classes,” she said.
At least three signs have been installed so far, including by the Islip Arts Building faculty parking lot, in front the Shea Theatre in Parking Lot 3, and alongside the bus stop by the Norman F. Lechtrecker Building.
To identify exactly where signage was most needed, members of SGA met in the evenings and walked the campus, marking coordinates at locations that would benefit from additional attributions. Those placements were sent to administration for review and approval. SGA members said more signs are expected to be installed as the process continues.
SGA President Nova Ventura-Rios, 19, of Central Islip, said the signage effort launched alongside another project focused on identifying broken or malfunctioning campus lights.
As more signs go up, the campus gets brighter
“We basically went around campus and helped fix whatever lights were out or weren’t working during the right times,” Ventura-Rios said. After noticing that some issues remained this semester, SGA brought their concerns to Dean Edward Martinez, who encouraged them to restart the initiative on a smaller scale to “catch the stray ones we haven’t gotten yet,” Ventura-Rios said.
For now, most of the newly posted signs include campus maps placed near parking lot entrances and exits—areas where students typically gather or arrive. Ventura-Rios added that additional signs with general directions based on nearby buildings are currently under administrative review.
“The signs I designed with the help of my chairmen are still being reviewed,” Ventura-Rios said. “Hopefully they’ll serve to help the students on campus.”
