2008 Woodie Awards
Does South Alabama need a bell tower?
Matt Flanagan
Opinion Editor
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
I must admit, it's difficult for me to speak lightly about $2.7 million. I think strongly that any investment worth anywhere near that much of the general public's money must have very strong, positive returns.
That being said, I do believe that, while the need for a bell tower on a university campus seems almost arbitrary in a lot of ways, there are many positive returns that can come from just such an investment.
Starting off, the most obvious positive side to this issue is that I - and by that I mean any current student at the University of South Alabama - will not be paying for this project out of tuition money. The bell tower complex is being funded almost entirely by the Alumni Association, which is composed of - you guessed it - alumni. They are expecting to raise at least $1.9 million from the alumni, with USA matching the rest of the funding on its own stride. Hence, we will not expect to see a marginal increase in costs to attend USA all because of this one project. As I see it, funding is my main concern for a large project like this - and I'm not paying a single cent for it. So, not only is it cost-efficient to students, it's actually cost-free.
The next item of interest is the idea that this monument will serve as a symbol of pride and unity for the University and give the students a place to mingle in their free time. While I don't exactly get the disparity in which this "pride" and "unity" are truly represented - whoever becomes a lifetime member of the Alumni Association (which, according to the Alumni Assocation Web site, costs $500 a year for individual alumni) gets his/her name inscribed on the "Wall of Honor" on the bell tower complex - I also understand that it's a beautiful structure that will provide students and friends a place to gather and mingle, which is something this campus is truly lacking. Let's go down the list of possible "hangouts" on campus: Sure, there's the Student Center, with a cafeteria and stuff, but when was the last time any of you students went there just to hang out - and not while you were hungry or needed to buy books or get a parking decal? No one wants to hang out at the Mitchell Center. It's an arena, for crying out loud. Most likely you'd be asked to leave for loitering.
I must admit, I see a lot of problems with deciding now, of all times, to build the bell tower complex, what with the fact that the University has struggled with renovations and repairs on its current facilities. The Grove not being open on time wasn't any comfort, either. But that wasn't entirely the point of building the bell tower; the point of the bell tower was to provide a "prominent center of student life and a historic tribute to the most committed alumni and University leaders," according to President Moulton's comments a few weeks ago. And on that note, I feel he will succeed.
That being said, I do believe that, while the need for a bell tower on a university campus seems almost arbitrary in a lot of ways, there are many positive returns that can come from just such an investment.
Starting off, the most obvious positive side to this issue is that I - and by that I mean any current student at the University of South Alabama - will not be paying for this project out of tuition money. The bell tower complex is being funded almost entirely by the Alumni Association, which is composed of - you guessed it - alumni. They are expecting to raise at least $1.9 million from the alumni, with USA matching the rest of the funding on its own stride. Hence, we will not expect to see a marginal increase in costs to attend USA all because of this one project. As I see it, funding is my main concern for a large project like this - and I'm not paying a single cent for it. So, not only is it cost-efficient to students, it's actually cost-free.
The next item of interest is the idea that this monument will serve as a symbol of pride and unity for the University and give the students a place to mingle in their free time. While I don't exactly get the disparity in which this "pride" and "unity" are truly represented - whoever becomes a lifetime member of the Alumni Association (which, according to the Alumni Assocation Web site, costs $500 a year for individual alumni) gets his/her name inscribed on the "Wall of Honor" on the bell tower complex - I also understand that it's a beautiful structure that will provide students and friends a place to gather and mingle, which is something this campus is truly lacking. Let's go down the list of possible "hangouts" on campus: Sure, there's the Student Center, with a cafeteria and stuff, but when was the last time any of you students went there just to hang out - and not while you were hungry or needed to buy books or get a parking decal? No one wants to hang out at the Mitchell Center. It's an arena, for crying out loud. Most likely you'd be asked to leave for loitering.
I must admit, I see a lot of problems with deciding now, of all times, to build the bell tower complex, what with the fact that the University has struggled with renovations and repairs on its current facilities. The Grove not being open on time wasn't any comfort, either. But that wasn't entirely the point of building the bell tower; the point of the bell tower was to provide a "prominent center of student life and a historic tribute to the most committed alumni and University leaders," according to President Moulton's comments a few weeks ago. And on that note, I feel he will succeed.
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