Fountain committee proposes
solution to water controversy
By Kurt Esposito
Summer
Editor
The Advisory Committee assigned to study the issues
surrounding the fencing of the biggest fountains on campus have proposed
a solution for the Class of 1939 Water Sculpture.
The committee has proposed to place a cylinder
over top of the jets on the fountain, which is located in the Purdue
Mall.
John Collier, landscape architect and member of
the committee, said the cylinder will be 10 feet tall and 32 inches
in diameter. It will be made out of stainless steel and covered with
a mirrored-finish polish. He said as people walk by the fountain, the
refection they see will constantly change.
The design follows an idea by the designer of the
sculpture, Robert Youngman, who came up with the design after the administration
announced in April its decision to erect fences around the sculpture
as well as the Loeb Fountain, located in Founders Park. The decision
was made as a safety precaution to prevent any injuries that may occur
from into the fountains.
After petitions and complaints from students and
staff, the administration formed the Advisory Committee to come up with
another solution.
Graham Cooks, a professor of chemistry who organized
a signature drive against the erection of the fences, said of the proposal
to build the cylinder, "I think it's moving in the right direction."
He would not comment any further at the time.
David Pflum, assistant director of Boiler Gold
Rush, said "It would be nice without the eye sore of the fences but
it's still going to cause some people to be upset. I personally wish
they would've never brought up the issue."
The cylinder still has yet to be officially designed
and the proposal still has to be approved by the University Architecture
Landscape Planning Committee.
"We hope to have a solution or some solution as
close as possible to the fall semester," Collier said.
A decision for the Loeb Fountain has not yet been
reached.
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