Purdue News
Purdue News
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November 29, 2000 Purdue Bell Tower is new site for Golden Taps ceremonyWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – One of Purdue's most reverent traditions, the Golden Taps ceremony honoring the lives of students who have passed away during the semester, makes a permanent move to the Purdue Bell Tower on Monday (12/4). Seven students will be honored in the short outdoor ceremony set for 9:30 p.m. at the base of the tower. Families and friends of the deceased, along with interested members of the general public are invited to attend. Since the mid-1990s, the late night ceremony had been held once a month in Spitzer Court, the inner courtyard at Cary Quadrangle. But much-needed dormitory renovations, which threatened to disrupt the grounds for four years or more, gave Purdue officials a chance to reassess and improve upon the tradition. "It seemed like a good time to rethink it," said Dean of Students Tony Hawkins, who added that he feels the move to the bell tower brings the ceremony into the heart of the Purdue campus while associating it with an important campus landmark. Instead of being held monthly during the school year, Golden Taps will now be held three times a year, at the end of the fall, spring and summer class sessions. The time for the ceremony was also moved from 10 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. "What is not changing is the essence and emotion of the ceremony. The impact is pretty powerful because of how reverent it is. It's simple and it's elegant," said Hawkins. Tradition calls for drummers and buglers from Purdue University Bands to set the tone for the event. "It's more of a time to reflect than to give eulogies. In fact, no words are involved at all," said David A. Leppla, associate professor and director of Purdue Bands. With the lighted bell tower serving as a beacon, drummers and buglers proceed from Elliott Hall of Music to the ceremony site at the base of the tower, where memorial cards list the names of students being recognized. The deceased are remembered with the tolling of the tower bell once for each student. Then there's a few moments of silence for personal reflection, and the playing of "Echo Taps." The "Purdue Hymn," is also performed. Following tradition, the Boilermaker Special, the university's official mascot, stands in silent tribute nearby. With the changes, Purdue Bands has taken over coordination of the ceremony from Pendragon, a student leadership honorary at Cary. It was former Cary director Roger Sharritt who initiated the ceremony, patterned after a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University, in 1994. Purdue Bands, with the help of Tau Beta Sigma band fraternity, adds a personal touch to the evening in the form of a reception for families prior to the event in the lobby of Elliott Hall. A fraternity member accompanies each family throughout the evening, and the family receives a personalized certificate as a remembrance of the ceremony. "It strikes me that this is one of those things Purdue does that makes this university a special place. It's a small thing, but a powerful thing at the same time," Hawkins said. To be honored at the December 4 ceremony are: Clay D. Lytle, Danville, Ind., a junior in the School of Technology. Christopher Ray Mason, Michigan City, Ind., a sophomore in the Schools of Engineering. Brian J. McGee, Ladoga, Ind., in the School of Liberal Arts. Eric David Ortiz, Elmwood Park, N.J., a senior in the School of Liberal Arts. Leola Simpson, Indianapolis, a freshman in the School of Liberal Arts. David R. Skiles, a freshman from Bringhurst, Ind. Matthew R. Stachowiak, Granger, Ind., a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts. Sources: Tony Hawkins, dean of students, (765) 494-1239; lthawkins@purdue.edu David A. Leppla, Director of Bands, (765) 494-0770; daleppla@purdue.edu Writer: Kathy Matter, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu
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