To the editor:

I had mixed emotions when I read the article in Thursday’s Journal-World about the WTC beams at the Dole Institute building. Clearly, having the beams there will be very meaningful to us all. Lighting, on the hand, is another problem. As an astronomer, and as a member of the Lawrence community, I hope that any lighting that’s done might be from above and illuminate the ground (but not too strongly) rather than from the ground, and thus illuminate the sky. Should that occur, we will be polluting the sky with light and degrading yet further the ability of everyone in Lawrence to enjoy the night sky. Losing the freedom to see the universe of which we are a part from our homes and from the university, would be a significant loss.

Stephen Shawl,

Lawrence