Ware said the lamps were chosen to provide adequate lighting to all students without using halogen lamps, which are a potential fire hazard. The lamps use energy-saving fluorescent light but are as effective as halogen lamps.

The decision to use these particular V-shaped lamps, which were designed by a former student, originally came over three years ago, in response to escalating energy costs and a halogen-related fire in 1996.

Robert L. Mortimer, associate director of building services, gave the approval to start handing out lamps at Cabot House. Students could pick up their own lamps yesterday or wait for house services to deliver them.

Sue K. Paik '02, a Cabot House resident, was thrilled to see an elevator filled with boxes on her way to breakfast yesterday morning.

"I was kind of surprised," she said. "I was going to pick one up for my entire suite...but then I was told that each of [the five of] us could take one."

Paik was one of the many students grateful for this new source of light.

"I think they're really needed," she said. "My room does not get enough light with just the big overhead lamp. We're pretty happy about this."