Clock Tower Becomes 'Permanent Symbol' for Campus

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   The Centennial Clock Tower, now under construction, will become a permanent testament to the university’s “century of opportunity.”

Courtesy of the Office of Advancement

Blueprint - The Centennial Clock Tower will serve as a permanent reminder of the university's 100th birthday. Yeiser said the architect designed the tower to match the style of the other buildings on campus.

   Linda Yeiser, interim vice chancellor of advancement, said she and Chancellor Jack Lassiter wanted something permanent to commemorate the anniversary.

   “You only turn 100 one time, there’s only one shot at (commemorating) this,” Yeiser said.

   The tower will cost $218,000. Yeiser said the university is paying for the tower through private donations and money set aside when the campaign started three years ago.  The $1 million endowment being raised as part of the Centennial Circle will not pay for the tower, according to Yeiser.

   “The fact we will raise $1 million in expense of $218,000, I think that’s a good trade off,” Yeiser said.

   The principle amount of the endowment will be invested and never spent, according to Lassiter. The only two restrictions placed on the endowment say the money can never be spent on salaries and a committee of faculty, staff and students will decide how to spend the part of the earnings to benefit the campus. The rest of the earnings will be put back into the principle, according to Lassiter. Yeiser said the process for selecting the committee has not been determined yet.

   Yeiser said the university wants the money to go to something meaningful to the campus, not salary. As a donor herself, Yeiser said she, along with other donors, envision the money being spent to help different areas of campus.

   “I want my money to buy a microscope, or send kids to New York, or buy a piano for the Music building,” Yeiser said.

   So far, the campaign has 65 pledges of $10,000. Donors giving $10,000 will have a name of their choice inscribed on the tower. Yeiser said the campaign seeks a total of 100 donors, and she has high hopes the university will raise the full $1 million.
Fundraising efforts for the Centennial Circle have included meeting with alumni and utilizing a Web site and personal contacts. Yeiser said she met personally with ever donor and prospective donor.

   Yeiser said the “$20.09 for the Class of ‘09” campaign, started by a group of seniors, is still ongoing. She said a private donor pledged to match whatever the campaign raises, so the class has to get at least $5,000 to have “The Class of 2009” inscribed on the tower.

   A lot of the donors include people have fond memories of the campus and appreciate the opportunity the university provided them to receive an education, according to Yeiser. While some of the donors include alumni and faculty, not all of the donors attended school at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Yeiser said some of former university President Frank Horsfall’s grandchildren donated to the campaign.

   “These people didn’t even attend UAM, but they have a lot of love for the school,” Yeiser said.

   Although the tower brings $1 million to campus, some students have voiced their opposition to the tower. Fliers circulated campus urging students to “say no to the clock tower” and a student created a Facebook group to provide a forum for students to vent their opinions. Beth Thompson, administrator of the "UAM Clocktower - Pro or Con?" Facebook group, said she created the group after a friend suggested it. She said it is a group for students to share their opinions, both for and against, of the clock tower. She added she did not have anything to do with the fliers someone posted around campus.

   Yeiser said she does not believe the majority of students oppose the tower. She said she only personally heard from one student who showed concern about the clock tower.

   “Any ideas are welcome, but I think there are just a few vocal students,” Yeiser said. “Its a university, so its an atmosphere for people to express their ideas.”

   Other projects, including the completed Sorrells and Wells Hall renovations and the new Athletic and Band practice facility, have taken place on campus, according to Yeiser. She said many improvements have taken place around campus.

   “The clock is not being done to the exclusion of (other projects),” Yeiser said. “We wouldn’t raise the $1 million without the clock.”

   Ultimately, the clock tower will serve as a significant symbol to the campus, according to Lassiter. He added it also serves as recognition to the donors who gave to the Centennial Circle endowment fund.

   “It’s important to recognize that size donation,” Lassiter said.
  

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