Purdue News

September 1, 2000 Lightning silences campus landmark WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – An intense thunderstorm on the evening of Aug. 23 is the apparent culprit behind the stopped clock and silent bells of the Purdue Bell Tower. Computerized control equipment sustained damage, and the manufacturer is dispatching a factory technician to campus to investigate further, said Greg Zawisza, director of special projects in the Office of University Relations. "It's our hope to have the tower's clocks, bells and carillon up and running in time for Homecoming weekend, September 22 through 24," Zawisza said. "We also will address the issue of adding additional circuitry-protection equipment in the tower's wiring." He said the control equipment sustained similar lightning-induced damage early in 1999. CONTACT: Zawisza, (765) 494-2086; gzawisza@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page