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Mirror Lake is lit with seasonal lights despite high costs. The Light Up the Lake lighting ceremony cost close to $8,000, which exceeded the Ohio Staters’ initial budget for the event, said Adam Rapien, co-chair of the lighting ceremony.
“We ended up changing our budget many times to accommodate price increases, but I’m glad we were able to get funding from the Black Student Association and the Council on Student Affairs to help make the event possible,” he said.
Light Up the Lake, which is put on by the Ohio Staters to kick off the holiday season, was held yesterday at Browning Amphitheatre.
“Light Up the Lake expenses were higher this year because of labor costs,” said Jon Avery, co-chair of the event. “We were not able to get discounted labor to help put all the lights on the same power source.”
The Ohio Staters have hung seasonal lights around Mirror Lake since autumn 2003, but the project discontinued in 2006 because of higher than anticipated costs. Not having the lights around Mirror Lake affected many students who enjoyed the tradition.
“A lot of people were mad that there were no lights out by Mirror Lake last year,” Rapien said. “There was even a Facebook group started called ‘Bring Back Light Up the Lake!’ with more than 500 people in it.”
Light Up the Lake is an important OSU tradition because it builds a greater sense of community among Buckeyes, Avery said.
The ceremony included music and refreshments, as well as an appearance by OSU President E. Gordon Gee. It concluded with everyone circling around the Lake with candles to sing “Carmen Ohio” as a countdown to turning on the lights.
There have been complaints that the lights are up in celebration for religious holidays.
“We let people know that the lighting ceremony is not a religious thing,” Rapien said. “We even use all white lights to keep it neutral.”
Some students said they think the lights around Mirror Lake are helpful for campus safety.
“I walk by Mirror Lake a lot and the lights will really help make the campus brighter when I come from my late class,” said Carli Roberson, a senior in sports and leisure studies.
The Ohio Staters started putting the lights up on the trees and shrubbery around Mirror Lake and Browning Amphitheatre Sunday. The lights will be turned on each evening until the end of winter quarter.
“The lights are going to look so beautiful as they reflect off Mirror Lake, and the ceremony will truly make a warm memory to end the year with,” Rapien said.
Heather Hope can be reached at [email protected].
