I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
I am a more recent graduate and everyone I know doesn’t care about it. I am with Hootie.[/quote]
What DO most recent grads and current students care about relating to this school?
I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
I am a more recent graduate and everyone I know doesn’t care about it. I am with Hootie.[/quote]
What DO most recent grads and current students care about relating to this school?[/quote]Lets be real here, that can be said for a large portion of older grads too.
I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
I am a more recent graduate and everyone I know doesn’t care about it. I am with Hootie.[/quote]
What DO most recent grads and current students care about relating to this school?[/quote]
Name change, continuing growth, value in the education, rankings of professors and programs…things that actually matter. The fact is the tower was not a landmark. If the school used it as a landmark then I would feel different. It wasn’t. And in fact if it had been used that way it would have received negative feedback because no one knew what the hell it was.
I think the irritation would be much lower had the announcement said “we are tearing down the tower for safety reasons and replacing it with…” showing a quality rendition of the proposed replacement…
Tearing it down with no defined plan to move forward is so us.
I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
Curious which has more historical significance, the phallic tower or the name UNCC (or UNC Charlotte)?
I want the name change as much as anybody but would argue the history associated with the name(s) are far greater than the tower. Odd (but not surprised) that the alums most vocal about a name chance are also the most vocal “keep the tower” crowd.
And I haven’t done a poll like Kevin, but the people I talk to are mostly apathetic about tearing down the tower. I don’t have an opinion on the tower. If the Belk family is ok with a change, why would I feel differently? And why would my opinion matter even if I did feel strongly? It was their money. I hung out at the base of it like everyone else, but only because it was a central point on the old campus, not because of the tower. I’m hopeful that that the space will be better used after the tower comes down.
my 2c[/quote]
I think you are comparing apples and oranges here but you bring up probably the only realistic reasoning behind keeping the UNCC name. At this point, I am becoming indifferent about the name change and wish we would just choose one and end the confusion.
We became UNCC in 1965, the tower was dedicated in 1970. There is not much still standing from those early years as a University. I just want to preserve something from our history. It has significance to me personally and many others feel the same way. It is unfortunate that some people can’t get past it being a phallic symbol. Aren’t all towers and lighthouses viewed the same way?
Also, they can keep the Belk Tower and still find a better way to use that space. Plenty of room to lay new red bricks all around it.
I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
I am a more recent graduate and everyone I know doesn’t care about it. I am with Hootie.[/quote]
What DO most recent grads and current students care about relating to this school?[/quote]
Name change, continuing growth, value in the education, rankings of professors and programs…things that actually matter. The fact is the tower was not a landmark. If the school used it as a landmark then I would feel different. It wasn’t. And in fact if it had been used that way it would have received negative feedback because no one knew what the hell it was.[/quote]
Not sure where to even start with this. ??? Oh well, here goes…sure, our students have been making a lot of noise about the “name change”. ??? As for the tower never being used as a “landmark”. I can only assume you mean as a “symbol” (or image) or something along those lines for the school. If so, you are dead wrong as it has been used on lots of images from/of the school for generations.
I’m not sure what is more disappointing: The Belk Tower getting torn down or the alumni apathy towards the situation.[/quote]
Dead serious question- why should I be up in arms over something that most of us thought looked like a joke to begin with?[/quote]
Do most of us have that opinion? 90% of the people that I have talked to about this over the last few weeks do not want it to be torn down. We have all made the jokes about it, but most of us realize that it is a historic symbol for our University. Even our weasel of a chancellor called it ‘an iconic symbol of a young and growing University’ in his e-mail.[/quote]
Curious which has more historical significance, the phallic tower or the name UNCC (or UNC Charlotte)?
I want the name change as much as anybody but would argue the history associated with the name(s) are far greater than the tower. Odd (but not surprised) that the alums most vocal about a name chance are also the most vocal “keep the tower” crowd.
And I haven’t done a poll like Kevin, but the people I talk to are mostly apathetic about tearing down the tower. I don’t have an opinion on the tower. If the Belk family is ok with a change, why would I feel differently? And why would my opinion matter even if I did feel strongly? It was their money. I hung out at the base of it like everyone else, but only because it was a central point on the old campus, not because of the tower. I’m hopeful that that the space will be better used after the tower comes down.
my 2c[/quote]
I think you are comparing apples and oranges here but you bring up probably the only realistic reasoning behind keeping the UNCC name. At this point, I am becoming indifferent about the name change and wish we would just choose one and end the confusion.
We became UNCC in 1965, the tower was dedicated in 1970. There is not much still standing from those early years as a University. I just want to preserve something from our history. It has significance to me personally and many others feel the same way. It is unfortunate that some people can’t get past it being a phallic symbol. Aren’t all towers and lighthouses viewed the same way?[/quote]
Look through the website online and find a photo of the damn thing. Here are two videos on our own admissions page. You see the thing for about 2 seconds in 2 minutes worth of videos. http://admissions.uncc.edu/admissions.
Look through the website online and find a photo of the damn thing. Here are two videos on our own admissions page. You see the thing for about 2 seconds in 2 minutes worth of videos. http://admissions.uncc.edu/admissions.
Your passion is great, but the school has not cared about the thing for a while.[/quote]
OK, man…If your point is that CHP doesn’t care about it (everything you listed here has come out under his watch) then yes, obviously HE doesn’t. However, this has ZERO to do with how much it was cared about and used by the school for the previous 35 years and many who came through the school during those years. It IS the closest thing we have EVER had to an iconic symbol. I am sorry you do not understand that.
[quote=“s9er, post:204, topic:29896”]I think the irritation would be much lower had the announcement said “we are tearing down the tower for safety reasons and replacing it with…” showing a quality rendition of the proposed replacement…
Tearing it down with no defined plan to move forward is so us.[/quote]
clt says we would complain about the proposed replacement then.
I don’t like the tower really. I am indifferent to it’s design. I am connected to the past of this university. I don’t trust the administration.
In the end I want it to stay, not because I like the tower - but because it is part of who we are and a piece of our past. Literally the only two iconic things on our campus are kennedy and the tower. That is it. After Christmas there will only be one thing. To me that is sad. Kennedy isn’t much to look at, has the same terrible design as Denny - at least it has survived CHP’s wrath. Since they keep saying something functional I assume the replacement is going to look like the space between Halton and the Union. Big open and lots of brick with some benches. Yeah that’s going to look nice, but be totally generic and devoid of anything unique or emotional.
Look through the website online and find a photo of the damn thing. Here are two videos on our own admissions page. You see the thing for about 2 seconds in 2 minutes worth of videos. http://admissions.uncc.edu/admissions.
Your passion is great, but the school has not cared about the thing for a while.[/quote]
I haven’t clicked any of the links or checked what % this makes of the admissions stuff. If that’s true, I hate to say it, but you are probably right. They are more interested in showcasing SF’s hated parts of campus.
clt prefers that the tower stays, but any replacement needs height. You can see the belk tower from many locations off campus, and we don’t need another courtyard for the hipster millenial students to check MySpace!
I love this University. Some of the best years of my life were spent here, and they were life-changing. Much of who I am is because of those years. I still love coming back for games, or just about any other event. The high-rise dorms, Belk Tower, and that end of campus were my University, but I really love what we have become. I like the cohesive design we are using, and I even like the Morrocroft brick. It has that classic look of a university for me.
I want an iconic structure/symbol on campus, and I believe that the Belk Tower is that now, but for me it doesn’t have to always be. Mainly because it really isn’t that great. Like the newer parts of campus, we can do better. I don’t even think the iconic structure must be in that location, so if that ends up as a wonderful gathering place I will be thrilled. Hopefully lots of trees. Chapel Hill has the Old Well, and NCSU has the Memorial Bell Tower. When Elon was a College it was the Alamance Building, and at Clemson it is Tillman Hall. App State has Mast General Store. I have all of these in my head from visiting those campuses. Let’s build something to be that symbol of our campus. I will agree that it would be sad to take the tower down without a committment to replace it with something significant.
Now, if the pro-tower crowd wins and they save it, I will be just fine with that. I am not anti-tower. I could probably even get on board with a hybrid solution where we took it down for safety reasons, moved it near the front entrance where it could really be seen, and incorporate the white concrete portion with a base that ties it into the new esthetic. So to those that really care good luck, but those of us who really don’t might just want something better.
[quote=“Nugget, post:215, topic:29896”]I love this University. Some of the best years of my life were spent here, and they were life-changing. Much of who I am is because of those years. I still love coming back for games, or just about any other event. The high-rise dorms, Belk Tower, and that end of campus were my University, but I really love what we have become. I like the cohesive design we are using, and I even like the Morrocroft brick. It has that classic look of a university for me.
I want an iconic structure/symbol on campus, and I believe that the Belk Tower is that now, but for me it doesn’t have to always be. Mainly because it really isn’t that great. Like the newer parts of campus, we can do better. I don’t even think the iconic structure must be in that location, so if that ends up as a wonderful gathering place I will be thrilled. Hopefully lots of trees. Chapel Hill has the Old Well, and NCSU has the Memorial Bell Tower. When Elon was a College it was the Alamance Building, and at Clemson it is Tillman Hall. App State has Mast General Store. I have all of these in my head from visiting those campuses. Let’s build something to be that symbol of our campus. I will agree that it would be sad to take the tower down without a committment to replace it with something significant.
Now, if the pro-tower crowd wins and they save it, I will be just fine with that. I am not anti-tower. I could probably even get on board with a hybrid solution where we took it down for safety reasons, moved it near the front entrance where it could really be seen, and incorporate the white concrete portion with a base that ties it into the new esthetic. So to those that really care good luck, but those of us who really don’t might just want something better.[/quote]
The problem is you don’t just make something iconic - it takes time and it takes emotion. So they could build the coolest most amazing piece of crap ever - but it most likely won’t be iconic or connect emotionally to the alumni. In 40 years maybe what they build will be to students that attend post new thing, but for me it will most likely never be more than just what replaced the Belk Tower. You can’t just create something like State’s tower or the Mast General Store and say here is your cool iconic thing.
Excellent point, and this is one of the reasons it needs to stay. It is a very unique landmark most other campuses do not have.
Sure, we all joked about it throughout the years, but that doesn’t mean it should be torn down. We occasionally joke about SCK and some of his escapades too, but that does not mean he needs to be torn down and replaced.
[quote=“s9er, post:204, topic:29896”]I think the irritation would be much lower had the announcement said “we are tearing down the tower for safety reasons and replacing it with…” showing a quality rendition of the proposed replacement…
Tearing it down with no defined plan to move forward is so us.[/quote]
Been saying this all along. Still can’t believe they didn’t have a replacement already drawn.
I have all of these in my head from visiting those campuses. Let’s build something to be that symbol of our campus. I will agree that it would be sad to take the tower down without a committment to replace it with something significant.