Changes made to Scramble Light at Ball State

If students have been confused about the Scramble Light, they should rest assured their brains aren't scrambled.

Pedestrians have to push the button to activate the scramble feature now, Jim Lowe, director of Engineering, Construction and Operations, said.

"If I recall, the [stoplight] would go through two cycles and then go through the scramble feature," he said. "It wasn't efficient because it would go through the feature when no one was standing there, and it was backing up traffic."

The light still requires a certain number of cycles in between each "scramble," but pedestrians will have to remember to press the button to activate the feature from now on, Lowe said.

Some students, such as freshman architecture major John Campbell, are puzzled by the new changes.

"I've been confused myself," he said. "I think as long as people tell people about it, it should be fine, but people aren't."

Freshman architecture major Michelle Pozen said she didn't notice the change but thinks the light should switch automatically rather than leaving students waiting.

The reimplementation of the button is not the only change the Scramble Light will undergo.

The intersection of McKinley and Riverside avenues is scheduled to be closed after Spring Commencement until mid-August for construction, similar to the construction on Neely Avenue, Lowe said. Among the new equipment and updates will be a new traffic signal.

"The new traffic signal will go through the scramble phase and we'll install the same features," he said.

Lowe said there have been discussions about putting the scramble feature on a timer so it will only work certain hours during the day, but nothing will be decided until the construction is complete.

"It might be that we have it set one way and decide it's not efficient, so we may go back in September or October and reset it," he said. "The technology will allow us to change it to what works best."

QUAD TALK:

Q: What do you think about the Scramble Light changes?

"It's fine. I'm a button-pushing guy."

Andrew Bultencier, freshman telecommunications major

"At first I thought it was stupid because I was just standing around, but then I thought it was beneficial."

Janell Tillman, senior hospitality major

"I feel like people push the button anyways."

Tom Knuckles, freshman telecommunications major

"I guess it's better so people don't get run over. They have to wait."

Rachel Fagan, freshman telecommunications major

"It's probably more convenient for drivers."

Brittany Mundhenk, freshman voice performance major