Facts: The Memorial Belltower never had bells installed after its initial construction in the 1930s. It currently uses a sound system to chime the time. The 2010 Senior Class chose to purchase a large bell towards the goal set of 54 bells.
Our Opinion: The Memorial Belltower needs to have the entire set of 54 bells. It is a travesty for N.C. State to lack a functional Belltower. With the unique position of the senior class gift, future senior classes have the opportunity to take on this project and see the completion of the symbol of N.C. State.
Since its partial completion in 1937, the Memorial Belltower has never had bells it deserved. A sound system rings the time, instead of actual bells. Currently the Memorial Belltower stands in a sorry state. It has been damaged due to weather and the marble in the tower is disintegrating. The only practical way to save our Belltower in times of these financial uncertainties is gifts from future senior classes. They should understand the necessity and tradition of the Belltower and commit to this cause of saving one of the most important monuments on campus.
We sincerely hope the future senior classed take on the challenge to raise the funds necessary for the remaining bells in the Belltower. The 2010 Senior Class raised enough for a large bell, but the buck cannot stop there. The original plan when the Belltower was conceived was to have 54 different bells of variable sizes on the tower. Now it is up to the future students and alumni to carry on the torch. Getting the 54 bells for the tower will make this symbol more meaningful to them and the N.C. State community.
We do not want the University to contribute the funds to this project because we are potentially going to have a 15 percent budget cut soon and contributing to the Belltower will compromise the quality of education at N.C. State. The Senior Class of 2010 showed that splitting the cost of purchasing the bells among the students on campus can be an effective way to raise the money. This would take a lot more campaigning, but would spread out the financial burden and create a sense of community investment in the project.
It is the decision of the future senior classes to raise the money to purchase the remaining bells, but if they manage to get them, their legacy will forever be engraved on their beloved alma mater. The great Memorial Belltower that has stood tall for almost nine decades now certainly deserves more respect from N.C. State. It will depend on the gifts from future senior classes to get all the bells and improve the condition of the tower. The only practical way of saving the Belltower lies with them. This is their chance to make a difference on N.C. State and start a new tradition to save the Belltower.
