The Ball State Board of Trustees approved a resolution Friday to name the 145-foot carillon tower to be built over the next year on McKinley Avenue for Phyllis C. and Hamer D. Shafer.

It will be known as the Shafer Tower.

"The Shafers have made a monumental difference for both Ball State and the community for more than a half of a century," said Ball State President John E. Worthen. "From their impact as volunteers on various civic projects to their financial contributions to the university, the Shafers have played a major role in the lives of our students and local residents."

Both Shafers have received the President's Medal of Distinction and the Benny Award and have been inducted into the College of Business Hall of Fame. They are the former owners of Muncie Power Products.

Phyllis Shafer, a 1947 graduate, also has been honored by Ball State and the University Foundation for her more than 25 years of service as director of the Foundation's Board of Directors, including 15 years as president. The foundation's office suite in the Alumni Center was named after her.

During her tenure as board president, she restructured, expanded, and raised its profile. The foundation's assets also grew from $10 million to $90 million.

Hamer Shafer has also been honored by the university for his outstanding leadership in business, civic, community and statewide affairs with an honorary doctor of laws degree.

The tower will serve as a focal point for the north quadrangle area. Construction will get underway June 12 and continue through early May 2001. The $3 million project is being funded by private donations. The tower will house 48 French-made, custom-cast and individually-tuned carillon bells.

The bells, with a range of four octaves, will make it possible to provide a variety of concert-quality musical presentations. Daily chimes may be pre-recorded music played through an automated system. However, live programs with trained carilloneurs will be planned for special occasions such as homecoming or commencement.

Immediately following the Shafer Tower construction next year, the university will begin a project to improve McKinley Avenue between Riverside Avenue and Petty Road.

In other business, the board approved a request to the Indiana General Assembly for a $21 million music instructional building to be built on the southeast corner of McKinley and Riverside avenues.

The capital request for the 2001-2003 biennium calls for the construction of a 73,000 square foot building that will provide facilities for the instrumental and choral music programs as well as the Music Engineering Technology program. The building will also house a 600-seat performance hall.

The new building is needed because current facilities are insufficient, university officials said.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager