The Bell Tower is a place of celebration and remembrance. Built as a memorial, the Bell Tower is also a place where the community can celebrate its accomplishments.   Tom Stafford, the vice chancellor of Student Affairs, explained the Bell Tower honors veterans with ties to the University.   “The tower was built in honor of, and in memorial for, the men from N.C. State who died in World War I,” Stafford said.   The names of 34 men are inscribed on a plaque inside the tower. Thirty‚Äìthree of these names are of alumni who perished in World War I, and the 34th name was of a man mistakenly reported as a casualty. Stafford said the mistake was transformed into a way of honoring all alumni.   “They decided to correct the mistake by going in and changing the name. The name they changed it to is a fictitious name. This fictitious name has come to symbolize all N.C. State alumni,” Stafford said.    Under Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, the Bell Tower’s role was expanded to become a place to recognize the accomplishments of students, faculty and alumni. In 1998, Fox announced the Bell Tower would be illuminated in red light on special occasions. This is similar to a tradition at the University of Texas, where Fox worked before becoming the chancellor of N.C. State.   “The University of Texas also has a very prominent tower on their campus. They had a tradition of lighting their tower orange to commemorate special events. [Fox] liked that idea, and she decided to institute this at N.C. State,” Stafford said.   While most students know a bit about why the tower is sometimes lit red, many believe it is lit only for athletic events.   Alexander Thomas, a freshman in chemical engineering, said he thought the tower was lit for homecoming and other special events.   “[It’s lit] for football, sometimes basketball and if they go far in any conference tournament,” Thomas said.   Elizabeth Williams, a freshman in civil engineering, guessed similarly to Thomas.   “When they win a basketball or football game, or when it is a big day at N.C. State,” Williams said.   Rick Schaefer, a sophomore in polymer and color chemistry, said when he drives by the red-lit Bell Tower he notices, but does not think much of it.   “[It’s lit] when we win games, but I do not know what types of games,” Schaefer said.   Contrary to some students’ beliefs, red light on the Bell Tower can signal any of a wide range of events. According to the University’s website, “the Bell Tower is lighted for holidays that honor our veterans, such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day, and to celebrate N.C. State’s proudest occasions and achievements.”   For example, the Bell Tower is lighted to celebrate all in-conference basketball victories, both men’s and women’s.   Natasha Vos, a senior in animal and poultry science, said she knew the meaning extended beyond sport victories.   “[It’s lit] whenever our football or basketball team wins an ACC conference game, and also whenever we elect a new chancellor or a higher-up associated with N.C. State,” Vos said.   Vos said she remembers going to the Bell Tower to celebrate a men’s basketball victory.   “When N.C. State beat Duke in basketball last year, there was a really large gathering, a sort of impromptu celebration. People were driving by and honking,” Vos said. “A lot of people gathered on the lawn by the Bell Tower.”   Other occasions and achievements that are honored by lighting the Bell Tower include Spring and Winter Commencements, Founders Day, any football victory, any ACC or national championship won by any team sport and if a member of the N.C. State community receives a top-level academic honor, such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer or Fulbright. Additional events may be honored at the discretion of the chancellor.