Every Friday, against my best wishes, I get up to go to my 8 a.m. discussion. As I cross onto campus feeling completely drained, passing by the Tower brightens my mood. I remember that I’m grateful and lucky to go to one of the best universities in the world. The Tower reminds me of the blood, sweat and tears I put into becoming a student at the University. Most importantly, it helps me remember to keep going.
However, with unnecessary exterior renovations that will cover up the Tower starting in January, I won’t get to feel its power anymore. Rather than looking up and being able to feel its beauty, history and motivation, I’ll be faced with scaffolding until 2027. In the next three years, I’ll have to find a reason to push through hardship and remind myself why we are at the University. While under this construction, the Tower will not be able to serve as my beacon of motivation.
In an email sent to every student on campus, Jay Hartzell claims that the Tower has “deteriorated, with no meaningful investment since its opening nearly 90 years ago.” Yet, paradoxically, in a photo attached to the email showing the before and projected after, there seems to be limited external change. In short, the Tower will be covered up for three years for a practically unnoticeable impact.
For such a project to take place with such a drastic effect on students for so little gain is a stain on the reputation of the Tower. I was looking forward to immortalizing my achievement at UT by taking graduation photos with its beauty gracing the background. Because of these renovations, I and many others who wish to take graduation photos near the Tower will be forced to accept that our experience at UT will be forever tainted by a project that has no tangible benefits.
When I stepped onto campus for the first time while touring the University, I was in awe of the Tower and what it represents. I loved how it loomed over all of the students passing by, serving as a uniting factor for all of their different backgrounds, majors and experiences. I yearned to become a part of the community and to share all of the campus’ academic and athletic achievements as they were recognized by lighting the Tower.
For myself and the entire student body, the Tower serves as a symbol of hope and perseverance. Our phones are filled to the brim with aesthetic pictures of the Tower lit up in iconic burnt orange or on rainy, cloudy and sunny days. Even my lock screen is the Tower, with lights in the windows spelling ‘27 during “Gone to Texas” from my freshman year.
Let our Tower be seen and halt this project. Let us look up and be able to see the Tower and its beautiful clocks, its gorgeous limestone and its striking pillars. Most importantly, allow us to feel the connection to our campus through its imposing figure and be able to remind ourselves to keep going.
Herman is a Plan II and psychology sophomore from Southlake, Texas.
