Students returned from spring break to significant changes at the College, namely, the Thorne Hall and Daggett Lounge lights. For those attached to the subdued neutrals of the old lighting system, the new bright, vibrant lights might have been a shock.

This lighting change is part of a larger initiative across campus to transition to LED lighting. Some may have noticed the brighter lighting in Moulton Union at the beginning of the school year, which was also part of this initiative.

“Campus is committed to moving lighting systems to LED equivalents when possible, as they are much more energy efficient and sustainable in the long term,” Executive Director of Dining Ryan Miller wrote in an email to the Orient.

Additionally, the old lights were original to Thorne, explaining some of the technical issues that the system faced. The new lighting system allows for increased flexibility in not only the color but also the intensity and location of the lighting, which has resulted in a bit of trial and error over the last few weeks. For the first week, the lights remained a bright white but have now been changed to lighter, cool-toned pastels.

“This new system has only been up and running for a few weeks, and we are still getting a handle on the best settings for different times of day. Every day, we get closer to getting it perfect though. We are open to feedback and would welcome anyone to reach out,” Miller wrote.

Beyond the first week’s brightness, the dining team has not received much feedback on the new system, but some students are more dismayed with the change.

“I feel like it goes on around seven or so when I’m working there, and it feels very alien. It feels very strange because I am winding down my shift and something new is starting, even though nothing has happened,” Catherine Mose ’25, who works a dinner shift at Thorne, said. “I’m not really sure what to make of it yet.”

Some longed for the old, muted system instead.

“They’ve done something wrong with the very center lights—the ones that are the colors—because they look so much harsher now. They used to be green which was weird, but it created good ambiance,” Isabel Sharp ’25 said.

Others were excited about the potential for new lighting colors but apprehensive about its use thus far.

“I really appreciate the different colored options, and I do feel that that adds a different dimension to the Thorne atmosphere. But I do feel that they are a little bit harsh at times, which detracts from the experience,” Brittany Yue ’27 said.