ASU President details vision for ASU's Housley Tower

In a recent interview with Ram Media on April 22, Angelo State University President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. addressed misconceptions surrounding the purpose of the new Housley Tower on campus. Contrary to popular belief, the tower is not primarily intended to ensure students arrive at class on time. "No, that’s a fable of some sort, and I may have started that fable when we did the groundbreaking," said Hawkins.

The real significance of the Housley Tower, according to President Hawkins, goes beyond the practical functions of chiming or time management. It aims to add a significant new element to the university's landscape, akin to the role that the men's and women's high rises played during his time as a student. "The way this will be able to help the students at Angelo State is far-reaching; it’s not something you can monetize but adds something to the landscape while they’re here," Hawkins explained.

Reflecting on his own collegiate days, Hawkins reminisced about how the iconic high rises once served as a prominent identifier for Angelo State University. 

"When I was here, it was the two high rises, the men's and women's at the time called dormitories. Those were the landscapes that we had to identify Angelo State University, and to this day, everyone who went during that time remembers those two high rises.” 

He anticipates that the Housley Tower will have a similar impact, becoming a new landmark for current and future students.

The inspiration for the bell tower came from Bob Housley, an alumnus whose memories of attending a previous university included a distinctive bell tower. This inspired him to donate a similar structure to Angelo State. "Mr. Housley, when he talked to me about wanting to have a bell tower and give the university a bell tower, remembers one of those from his institution, and so it’s something that’s going to be beneficial to all of us down the road," Hawkins detailed. He humorously noted that while he had once joked about the bell ensuring students woke up on time, this was merely a nod to his military background and not its intended purpose.

The functionality of the Housley Tower will be multifaceted, particularly during celebrations and significant university events. "It can play the fight song, it can play any of the songs that we want, but it will also light up at certain regions and stages of life," Hawkins said. The tower will especially come alive during university victories and graduation ceremonies, lighting up in Angelo State's colors to celebrate these milestones. "We have procedures and policies that’ll say we will light it up, but on other occasions that we haven’t even thought of, we will have it lit up in those times," he added.

Additionally, the Housley Tower is set to become a beacon, integrating the university more closely with the surrounding community. As the community sees the tower lit up or hears its chimes, it will strengthen the campus's identity and its relationship with the locals.

"The community is going to see the bell tower lit up and they’re going to recognize and identify with the bell tower being where it is, especially going down Johnson Street and more importantly hearing it played as well as being lit up," Hawkins elaborated.

Hawkins expressed pride not only in the bell tower but in the numerous projects and developments occurring across the Angelo State campus. From new facilities for the women's golf team to expansions in the rodeo arena, the campus is bustling with activity and improvements. Yet, beyond the physical structures, Hawkins emphasized that his greatest pride lies in the university's people — the students, faculty, and staff who make Angelo State a vibrant and dynamic community. 

"I’m very proud of the campus; it’s one of those things when people step on Angelo State they’re very impressed by how immaculate and impressive it seems," he said.