Thursday, February 15, 2007
10 a.m.
Quad
Since 2002, members of the Illinois State University family have celebrated the heritage of the state’s first public university in this special Founders Day ceremony. The bell from Old Main, the first building on the campus of what was then called Illinois State Normal University, is permanently displayed on the University Quad at the site of Old Main. Throughout the years, the bell was a symbol of daily campus life as it tolled the hours each day.
Although the Old Main building was deemed to be structurally unsound and removed from the campus in 1958, the bell remains a reminder of the campus that sprung up from the prairie. During Founders Day activities, the bell is brought back to active service as selected members of the University community pull the rope to ring it once for each year in the life of the institution.
In 2007 to celebrate the 150th year since the founding of Illinois State University, the ceremony will focus on the institution’s notable firsts, accomplishments, and points of pride. Each campus unit will be asked to submit a nomination that includes not only the individual they would like to represent their unit, but also the University point of pride that individual represents. For example, a unit may wish to celebrate its connection to the first student organization on campus, a nationally-ranked academic program, an alpha chapter of a national organization, the most graduates from a particular academic discipline, etc. The purpose of the celebration is to focus on that which makes the University an outstanding institution of higher learning as well as its unique attributes.
Each campus unit received nomination materials; only nominations from campus units will be accepted. Because more nominations than available spots are anticipated, a special committee will make the final selections by December 1. These individuals will, together with dignitaries, total 150 honored persons who will each ring the bell once to signify a year in the life of this grandest of enterprises on Founders Day 2007.
For additional information please contact Barbara Todd, University Advancement 3200, 438-2592, or at .
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