While the students at Wesleyan may be smart, the lights in Usdan are smarter. The lights at the Usdan University Center adjust to the brightness of the room themselves—as the natural light in the room decreases, the intensity of the bulbs increases. The lights are also programmed by motion-detecting technology that will turn them off when the sensors detect no movement for 30 minutes.

Lutron, the lighting company that set up the system, created this energy-smart design to comply with Usdan’s Green Building Initiatives. Lately, however, this smart technology has been malfunctioning.

“A couple of weeks ago, one of the Bon Appétit workers let me know that the lights were now turning off unexpectedly during the day,” said Associate Director of the Usdan Center Joanne Rafferty. “My instinct [told] me that something may be wrong with the motion sensors in the rooms.”

According to Rafferty, if the motion sensors are the problem, then the most likely reason is that the motion sensors are facing a corner or a particularly empty area of the dining room. This positioning would cause the lights to shut off even when activities are occurring elsewhere within the room. Last year, when the lights were mysteriously turning on without cause, the company adjusted the motion censors and was able to fix the problem. Rafferty is confident that they will be able to fix this new problem, as well.

Students that eat at Usdan, especially during dinner when there is little natural light, have been quick to notice the light, or lack thereof.

“All of a sudden lights will shut off and completely alter the mood in Usdan,” said Charlotte Christopher ’12. “It’s very distracting because you can’t see your food.”

The problem is usually quickly solved by the manager on duty, who can control the brightness of both dining rooms in Usdan with the flick of a switch. Students have also noticed that as the lights are turned on and adjust to full intensity, the lights change color, from green to blue to pink, before settling on the standard white.

“I hate those dinner lights,” said Catie Steidl ’11. “They always make me feel like I’m in some kind of alien hospital, they’re really sickly-greenish. It makes the food look really unappetizing.”

The colors, however, are completely unintentional.

“As the bulb heats up, the lights change colors,” said Manager of Safety and Sanitation Brian Cahill. “We don’t have any controllers or special switches to change [them].”

This explanation, however, does not stop students from brainstorming possible hidden motives of the staff. Some believe the staff is trying to send a message to students.

“I think the lights shutting off is a way for Usdan to save energy with their eco-standards,” said Seung Kwon Yang ’12.

Other students imagine that the light activity is designed to keep the students on their toes during the long school day.

“I think it’s the same idea as when they put roommates together who have the same initials or name,” Christopher said. “It’s the little funny jokes the school plays on us.”

Other students thought up even more creative theories

“Maybe they just want us all to eat less in general,” Steidl said. “If the lights make us eat less, but we already paid with a meal, maybe they don’t have to give us as much food for our money.”