New pond fountain a gift for all

September 03, 2008
By Pete Nickeas
Staff Writer

Photo by Amanda Dahlquist

In an effort to continue beautification efforts around campus, a large fountain was placed in the UIS Pond adjacent to University Drive. The fountain is visible from many points on campus, but particularly to those entering on West Lake Shore Drive.

Student fees were not used to purchase the fountain, according to UIS Chancellor Richard D. Ringeisen. It was purchased by way of monetary donation from Ringeisen’s wife, Carolyn.

Ringeisen and his wife both declined to disclose the full amount of the gift that made the purchase possible. The chancellor instead noted the fountain’s cost exceeded the $15,000 Japanese garden installed at the southwest corner of the Public Affairs Center. He also pointed out that there wouldn’t be a noticeable increase in the utility costs to the university.

University staff installed the fountain shortly after last semester ended and it was completed on June 17. According to David Barrows, Associate Chancellor of Administrative Affairs, university electricians spent about 80 total hours on the installation and coordinated with grounds workers for the final placement in the center of the pond. Barrows oversees buildings, grounds, maintenance, motor pool, and several other administrative departments on campus.

The fountain is one of numerous gifts Carolyn Ringeisen has given and was meant to boost morale among university community members. This, and other activities on behalf of the university, as earned Carolyn a nickname. Some faculty and staff have been calling her “chancelloresse” for her numerous activities on behalf of the Office of Development, the university’s fund raising arm.

“I wanted something sturdy that would last for many years to come,” Carolyn Ringeisen said. “It helps morale of the faculty, staff, and students to have a beautiful campus.

“She’s been very influential in the gifts, and not just the ones she’s given,” the Chancellor said. “It’s important to have a good feeling. It’s hard to measure its worth. It really shows when it’s lighted at night.”

The Aquamaster-brand fountain projects water in a ninetyfoot vertical stream during times of low wind activity, and when the built-in-wind-gauge detects increasing winds, an adjustment is made to bring the level down to sixty feet, forty five feet, or to shut down completely.

“I think she had old faithful in mind,” Ringeisen said. “The staff have begun jokingly referring to it as the ring-geyser.”

The UIS Pond was used as a backdrop for candlelight vigils years after 9/11 and by the Women’s Center, who’ve had a garden adjacent to the pond since 1998. The garden is located on the northwest side of the pond and in recent months, has been used by professional photographers to shoot wedding and family photos.

“I was thrilled,” said Lynn Otterson, director of the Women’s Center, of the addition to the pond. “It’s so simple but so spectacular.”