Friday, November 21, 2008 THE SlGNPOST Bell Tower continued from front formally with an elaborate ceremony. After remarks from Millner and Hurst, purple smoke gushed from the Stewart Bell Tower as Maj. Keith McVeigh from the WSU ROTC rappel off the Bell Tower balcony, carrying a massive purple ribbon to the crowd below. WSU Student Body President Dan Schwab handed the ceremonial scissors to Jack Lampros, who was also at the First Bell Tower dedication, Lampros cut the ribbon, and confetti burst from the tower. The WSU band played the WSU fight song, and the bells chimed out the university hymn "Purple and White." "I don't think any of us believed we would be able to accomplish in five years what's happened when you look at the total on this campus, " Millner said. "This is the centerpiece of that in many ways; it kind of connects all of these buildings. We're grateful for all of those who have made this happen." Improvements on the Bell Tower itself will be completed at a later time. The clock and carillon features will eventually be restored. The face of the clock will also be illuminated. Schwab said one of the goals of the project was to give students gathering place. "It just kind of gives us a central hub to all the parts of campus, " he said. Schwab said he is already making plans to take advantage of the space in the spring, for students and personal use. "I, myself, would like to bring a football up in between classes, grab somebody and throw the ball around and just enjoy it, " Schwab said, "because its just gorgeous and its great to be a part of. " And as Ferguson wraps up his second degree at WSU, he said he would like to take advantage of the new space as well. "I would set up a picnic right up in here, " Ferguson said. "I feel like I'm in the mountains. " Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. Top left: WSU band members perform at the Bell Tower ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday morning. Top Right: WSU President F. Ann Millner and Student Body President Dan Schwab asks for the ribbon to cut during the Bell Tower ribbon-cutting ceremony. Bottom far left: A banner hung on the Bell Tower for the ribbon cutting. Bottom left: President Millner speaks to students, faculty, and alumni about the construction project that had taken place at the Bell Tower, and the benefit of the new Bell Tower landscaping. Bottom right: Jack Lampros cuts the ribbon while WSU ROTC Maj. Keith J. McVeigh holds the ribbon, which he brought on stage by rappelling down the leg of the Bell Tower.