clt asks what should replace the belk tower?

University News and Notes
81

It is funny how something so universally derided becomes beloved when the announcement is made it will be torn down. At NCSU, Harrelson Hall–the old Math building–is being replaced by the new SAS Math building. Built in 1961, people were ragging on the stupidity of a circular building where you cannot find anything when I went on a college tour in '76. Now, a friend of mine that is an NCSU math alum has driven to Raleigh to get a picture in front of Harrelson because it is where she spent college.

I guess the Belk Tower is ours. Certainly it is a landmark, and I don’t doubt it was a gathering place during the college years for many, but things change. Especially when a University grows like ours. I went to basketball games in the Mine Shaft, but Halton is better. I used to hang out in the Cone Center between classes, but the new Union is better. I drank beer on the track near where the Union is now, but the Black Lot is better! I still have my memories, but I love what the campus has become. I think we need a picturesque, iconic structure on campus. Most schools have one. But the Belk Tower was always just the most interesting of some horrible architecture. If you love it and want to fight for keeping it I am okay with that. In fact, I love to see the passion. I am just not in your camp. The Belk Quad is perhaps the most prime real estate on campus, and it should be so much more. I will miss the Belk Tower a little, but as long as they do the redesign well this is fine with me.

82

WTF does functionality have to do with anything? Most art and/or historical landmarks serve no traditional functional purpose.

Its like saying, “f*** the Liberty Bell. That stupid thing doesnt even ring and is little more than a cheap memory for some people.”

My only hope in all of this is that the designers stay away from replacing it with anything that would evenly vaguely remind people of a dick. I dont think i can take a few more decades of recycled dildo jokes.

83

If they had allowed others to have a voice in this and had shared what the replacement would be I think the desire to keep it would be lessened. It is a combo of losing one of the few unique things on campus and not having any idea what is going in it’s place. As I said above it could just be a brick plaza - which while looking nice, would suck. Time always marches on and newer is almost always better, but it doesn’t have to always come at the expense of the past.

And beyond all of that it is the lack of respect for alumni and student opinions. The BOT and the Chancellor do not own this university, we do. They are simply care takers. We should have a voice in something such as this, just as students have had voices in the other things you mention. Halton, the Union, football - many of the pivotal decisions were made with student and/or alumni input. This one should be to. If most want it gone and replaced so be it. If most want it retained and designed around then so be it. The BOT and Chancellor are not judge jury and executioner and it’s insane that they think they have mandate to make such a change without consultation of the masses.

84

WTF does functionality have to do with anything? Most art and/or historical landmarks serve no traditional functional purpose.

Its like saying, “f*** the Liberty Bell. That stupid thing doesnt even ring and is little more than a cheap memory for some people.”

My only hope in all of this is that the designers stay away from replacing it with anything that would evenly vaguely remind people of a dick. I dont think i can take a few more decades of recycled dildo jokes.[/quote]

The Engineering side of me says everything must have a function or it’s useless. It’s not aesthetically pleasing and is no longer the center of campus. It’s in the way and it’s time for it to go.

I have memories of it too, most of them include sidewalk preachers being punched in the face there for condemning everyone to hell.

85

WTF does functionality have to do with anything? Most art and/or historical landmarks serve no traditional functional purpose.

Its like saying, “f*** the Liberty Bell. That stupid thing doesnt even ring and is little more than a cheap memory for some people.”

My only hope in all of this is that the designers stay away from replacing it with anything that would evenly vaguely remind people of a dick. I dont think i can take a few more decades of recycled dildo jokes.[/quote]

The Engineering side of me says everything must have a function or it’s useless. It’s not aesthetically pleasing and is no longer the center of campus. It’s in the way and it’s time for it to go.

I have memories of it too, most of them include sidewalk preachers being punched in the face there for condemning everyone to hell.[/quote]

These things have no functionality either. Maybe someone should tear them down.


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86

I think Nugget and NWA both made very valid points.

I still think if we knew what the proposed replacement was, it may change some minds: both the keep it and the take it down crowd.

That was my first reaction to the news. I didn’t like the announcement for all of the reasons NWA pointed out, but I also couldn’t believe they didn’t at least have concept art for the replacement. Just baffling to me. To be honest, that reeks of a closed fist held behind their backs… they’ll tell us what they’re gonna do next only after they’ve already destroyed the tower.

I keep repeating myself, but I do believe we can replace it with a worthy, unique landmark that represents our special history and is both a comfortable gathering place, and aesthetically pleasing.

87

[quote=“NinerAdvocate, post:86, topic:29896”]I think Nugget and NWA both made very valid points.

I still think if we knew what the proposed replacement was, it may change some minds: both the keep it and the take it down crowd.

That was my first reaction to the news. I didn’t like the announcement for all of the reasons NWA pointed out, but I also couldn’t believe they didn’t at least have concept art for the replacement. Just baffling to me. To be honest, that reeks of a closed fist held behind their backs… they’ll tell us what they’re gonna do next only after they’ve already destroyed the tower.

I keep repeating myself, but I do believe we can replace it with a worthy, unique landmark that represents our special history and is both a comfortable gathering place, and aesthetically pleasing.[/quote]

What we CAN do and what we WILL do may not one in the same. If they had allowed alumni and students to be a part of this process I would be much more willing to concede the tower.

88

[quote=“trickynbc, post:80, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:72, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:65, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:55, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:51, topic:29896”]Tear the mofo down. It has no purpose. Build something useful there.[/quote] It has purpose. I know this might to hard to comprehend, but there are objects that are objectively ugly, but subjectively beautiful.
Your girlfriend gives you some GOD AWFUL ring and you wear it because she gave it to you. Later on, you get older, make a ton of money and can afford a big ole pimp style diamond ring, but you keep wearing that ring she gave you years ago. That mofo is a link between most of us who have attended UNC Charlotte and for those of us who are getting on in age, a link to the memory of our youth. That’s pretty damned useful, Phil.[/quote]

So do your memories disappear if the tower is gone?[/quote] If I bash you upside the head will you stop bleeding at some point? You will. Doesn’t mean I should do it.[/quote]

It has no functionality more than a cheap memory for some people. But hey if you enjoy looking at long dildos have at it.[/quote] If you resort to personal insults, will everyone know you’ve lost your case? Yes, they will.

89

[quote=“Mr. Bojangles, post:78, topic:29896”][quote=“49RFootballNow, post:50, topic:29896”]Was just informed my Letter to the Editor will be in the Observer tomorrow. It’s really just a blurb but here it is:

Chancellor Phil Dubois wants to tear down the only unique thing on the UNC Charlotte campus.
He says $1 million is too much to fix it, but we all know its replacement will likely cost more and be like 500 other clock towers found on college campuses in this nation.
The Belk Tower might not be pretty, but it is unique – and even better, it’s ours!
Do the right thing Chancellor Dubois – fix the Belk Tower![/quote]

2 #BadFans made the paper today

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article40514253.html[/quote]

The author of one of those opinions on our tower sure is a handsome fella. :wink:

90

[quote=“49RFootballNow, post:89, topic:29896”][quote=“Mr. Bojangles, post:78, topic:29896”][quote=“49RFootballNow, post:50, topic:29896”]Was just informed my Letter to the Editor will be in the Observer tomorrow. It’s really just a blurb but here it is:

Chancellor Phil Dubois wants to tear down the only unique thing on the UNC Charlotte campus.
He says $1 million is too much to fix it, but we all know its replacement will likely cost more and be like 500 other clock towers found on college campuses in this nation.
The Belk Tower might not be pretty, but it is unique – and even better, it’s ours!
Do the right thing Chancellor Dubois – fix the Belk Tower![/quote]

2 #BadFans made the paper today

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article40514253.html[/quote]

The author of one of those opinions on our tower sure is a handsome fella. ;)[/quote] Just like the tower, beauty is in eye of the beholder. ;D
Thanks for expressing your opinion

91

[quote=“4ever niner, post:88, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:80, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:72, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:65, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:55, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:51, topic:29896”]Tear the mofo down. It has no purpose. Build something useful there.[/quote] It has purpose. I know this might to hard to comprehend, but there are objects that are objectively ugly, but subjectively beautiful.
Your girlfriend gives you some GOD AWFUL ring and you wear it because she gave it to you. Later on, you get older, make a ton of money and can afford a big ole pimp style diamond ring, but you keep wearing that ring she gave you years ago. That mofo is a link between most of us who have attended UNC Charlotte and for those of us who are getting on in age, a link to the memory of our youth. That’s pretty damned useful, Phil.[/quote]

So do your memories disappear if the tower is gone?[/quote] If I bash you upside the head will you stop bleeding at some point? You will. Doesn’t mean I should do it.[/quote]

It has no functionality more than a cheap memory for some people. But hey if you enjoy looking at long dildos have at it.[/quote] If you resort to personal insults, will everyone know you’ve lost your case? Yes, they will.[/quote]

Comparing the Belk tower to an ugly ring your girlfriend gives you? You never had a case.

92

[quote=“trickynbc, post:91, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:88, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:80, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:72, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:65, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:55, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:51, topic:29896”]Tear the mofo down. It has no purpose. Build something useful there.[/quote] It has purpose. I know this might to hard to comprehend, but there are objects that are objectively ugly, but subjectively beautiful.
Your girlfriend gives you some GOD AWFUL ring and you wear it because she gave it to you. Later on, you get older, make a ton of money and can afford a big ole pimp style diamond ring, but you keep wearing that ring she gave you years ago. That mofo is a link between most of us who have attended UNC Charlotte and for those of us who are getting on in age, a link to the memory of our youth. That’s pretty damned useful, Phil.[/quote]

So do your memories disappear if the tower is gone?[/quote] If I bash you upside the head will you stop bleeding at some point? You will. Doesn’t mean I should do it.[/quote]

It has no functionality more than a cheap memory for some people. But hey if you enjoy looking at long dildos have at it.[/quote] If you resort to personal insults, will everyone know you’ve lost your case? Yes, they will.[/quote]

Comparing the Belk tower to an ugly ring your girlfriend gives you? You never had a case.[/quote] Well, to be fair, I did state that my analogy might be hard for you to understand. I guess I didn’t underestimate your comprehension or lack thereof.
People sometimes value things beyond functionality or objective beauty. The ring is just an example, as is, for some people, the Belk Tower.
I’ll try another analogy. I have a few pictures of relatives around as a link to my memories of those people. The pictures have no other objective purpose and, for sure, getting rid of them would not completely eradicate the memories, but I’m going to keep them. I will not be getting rid of the mofos.

93

Isis destroys historical buildings.
Dubois & the BOT destroy historical buildings.
Does that mean Dubois & the BOT are members of ISIS?

94

They have classrooms in chapel that are not being used and have never been seen. Maybe they should tear them down.

95

[quote=“4ever niner, post:92, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:91, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:88, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:80, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:72, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:65, topic:29896”][quote=“4ever niner, post:55, topic:29896”][quote=“trickynbc, post:51, topic:29896”]Tear the mofo down. It has no purpose. Build something useful there.[/quote] It has purpose. I know this might to hard to comprehend, but there are objects that are objectively ugly, but subjectively beautiful.
Your girlfriend gives you some GOD AWFUL ring and you wear it because she gave it to you. Later on, you get older, make a ton of money and can afford a big ole pimp style diamond ring, but you keep wearing that ring she gave you years ago. That mofo is a link between most of us who have attended UNC Charlotte and for those of us who are getting on in age, a link to the memory of our youth. That’s pretty damned useful, Phil.[/quote]

So do your memories disappear if the tower is gone?[/quote] If I bash you upside the head will you stop bleeding at some point? You will. Doesn’t mean I should do it.[/quote]

It has no functionality more than a cheap memory for some people. But hey if you enjoy looking at long dildos have at it.[/quote] If you resort to personal insults, will everyone know you’ve lost your case? Yes, they will.[/quote]

Comparing the Belk tower to an ugly ring your girlfriend gives you? You never had a case.[/quote] Well, to be fair, I did state that my analogy might be hard for you to understand. I guess I didn’t underestimate your comprehension or lack thereof.
People sometimes value things beyond functionality or objective beauty. The ring is just an example, as is, for some people, the Belk Tower.
I’ll try another analogy. I have a few pictures of relatives around as a link to my memories of those people. The pictures have no other objective purpose and, for sure, getting rid of them would not completely eradicate the memories, but I’m going to keep them. I will not be getting rid of the mofos.[/quote]

I understood the analogy you were trying to explain. Other significant non-functional uses that take up use-able space (family pics, girlfriends ugly ring, etc. doesn’t count) such as the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, etc. are clearly useful as they bring in revenue from tourism that can boost local and state economies. The Belk Tower does not fall into this category. If they can turn this space into something that would benefit the University I’m all for it. I do agree with everyone that the late Friday afternoon email from Phil is shady as hell and if they have no good reason or plans to enhance the University in this space then leave it be. I believe this space could and should be used for something useful, not just to aesthetically alter the square with more brick, bushes, tables and chairs.

I understand the historical significance of certain landmarks (i.e. Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, etc.) but find it hard to believe this tower follows accordingly with these in regards to our University. Maybe if it was constructed during the first couple years as a campus or to mark an historically significant event in school history I could jump on board. Being built as a gift at the center point of campus at the time just doesn’t cut it. If this was the original barn that was apart of campus from day 1 I would be all for preserving it.

96

You understood my analogies and you think Mount Rushmore, etc justified by tourist revenue. Those are two contradictory statements. I give up.

97

Did you read the 2nd paragraph? Or did you stop reading after the first part you disagreed with?

If you don’t believe money runs everything then you are in a state of denial.

98

[quote=“stonecoldken, post:93, topic:29896”]Isis destroys historical buildings.
Dubois & the BOT destroy historical buildings.
Does that mean Dubois & the BOT are members of ISIS?[/quote]

Best post in this thread.

99

[quote=“stonecoldken, post:93, topic:29896”]Isis destroys historical buildings.
Dubois & the BOT destroy historical buildings.
Does that mean Dubois & the BOT are members of ISIS?[/quote]

FoxNews, is that you?

100

[quote=“NewNiner, post:99, topic:29896”][quote=“stonecoldken, post:93, topic:29896”]Isis destroys historical buildings.
Dubois & the BOT destroy historical buildings.
Does that mean Dubois & the BOT are members of ISIS?[/quote]

FoxNews, is that you?[/quote]
Lame