2008 Woodie Awards
Bell tower plans showcased
Melanie Thornton
Senior Reporter
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The University of South Alabama's National Alumni Association announced plans for the construction of a 100-foot-tall Bell Tower.
The $2.7 million project, which will be located between Alumni Hall and the north side of the Mitchell Center, will serve the University aesthetically as well as functionally.
Carol Kittrell, director for the alumni association, addressed why the construction of the bell tower was important. "Some of our association board of directors -- in the early 90s -- talked about it and felt that we needed some type of a gathering place on this campus, and they came up with the idea that we needed a bell tower," Kittrell said.
The director went on to say that along with the construction of the bell tower, there would be an alumni plaza. The bell tower and plaza would provide opportunities for various events. "You can have weddings, you can have homecoming gatherings, meetings, just all kinds of gatherings there," Kittrell said. "It [bell tower] is open underneath. It's kind of a multi-purpose open area, which is covered. It will seat up to 146 people. But it'll be chairs that can be taken away, so you can either have an open area there or a sit down gathering."
Kittrell said monies for the project comes from various sources. "It is the job of the alumni association to raise some of the funding and the University has pledged about $900,000 in matching funds," Kittrell said. " We're going to have to come up with about $1.8 million."
Hoping to begin construction by the end of the year, the alumni association raises much of the funds by allowing alumni, faculty, staff and others an opportunity to donate monetary contributions. In doing so, they receive recognition by having their name placed on the bell tower's columns. "We're basically selling the rights," Kitrell said. Although anyone can contribute financially to the project and have his or her name placed on a column on the bell tower, the columns making up the walls of honor are reserved for alumni who have committed to a lifetime association membership. For a gift of $15,000, lifetime association members can obtain recognition on the wall. "We've already sold about five of the walls," Kittrell said. Other donors, who give a donation of $10,000, can have their names on the columns.
In a press release sent out by the University's public relations department, President Gordon Moulton states his excitement towards the bell tower's construction. "The University of South Alabama Bell Tower will be a symbol of unity for our faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters, as well as an important icon reflecting both the growing strength of the University and the ever-increasing positive impact USA is having each day on the people it serves. The bell tower will become a campus focal point that students and alumni can use for important moments and significant events in their lives."
The $2.7 million project, which will be located between Alumni Hall and the north side of the Mitchell Center, will serve the University aesthetically as well as functionally.
Carol Kittrell, director for the alumni association, addressed why the construction of the bell tower was important. "Some of our association board of directors -- in the early 90s -- talked about it and felt that we needed some type of a gathering place on this campus, and they came up with the idea that we needed a bell tower," Kittrell said.
The director went on to say that along with the construction of the bell tower, there would be an alumni plaza. The bell tower and plaza would provide opportunities for various events. "You can have weddings, you can have homecoming gatherings, meetings, just all kinds of gatherings there," Kittrell said. "It [bell tower] is open underneath. It's kind of a multi-purpose open area, which is covered. It will seat up to 146 people. But it'll be chairs that can be taken away, so you can either have an open area there or a sit down gathering."
Kittrell said monies for the project comes from various sources. "It is the job of the alumni association to raise some of the funding and the University has pledged about $900,000 in matching funds," Kittrell said. " We're going to have to come up with about $1.8 million."
Hoping to begin construction by the end of the year, the alumni association raises much of the funds by allowing alumni, faculty, staff and others an opportunity to donate monetary contributions. In doing so, they receive recognition by having their name placed on the bell tower's columns. "We're basically selling the rights," Kitrell said. Although anyone can contribute financially to the project and have his or her name placed on a column on the bell tower, the columns making up the walls of honor are reserved for alumni who have committed to a lifetime association membership. For a gift of $15,000, lifetime association members can obtain recognition on the wall. "We've already sold about five of the walls," Kittrell said. Other donors, who give a donation of $10,000, can have their names on the columns.
In a press release sent out by the University's public relations department, President Gordon Moulton states his excitement towards the bell tower's construction. "The University of South Alabama Bell Tower will be a symbol of unity for our faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters, as well as an important icon reflecting both the growing strength of the University and the ever-increasing positive impact USA is having each day on the people it serves. The bell tower will become a campus focal point that students and alumni can use for important moments and significant events in their lives."
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