Sesquicentennial Bell
The Ringing of the Sesquicentennial Bell
The music of the University of Northern Iowa is a cornerstone of the campus experience thanks to the carillon instrument in the Campanile. Starting this fall, a new bell will join in the melody, marking the beginning of the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration period and ushering in a new tradition.
Join us for the first ringing of the Sesquicentennial Bell
The First Ringing of the Sesquicentennial Bell will officially mark the beginning of the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration period, which will last for more than a year.
The program will include a carillon concert, reflections from university leadership and, of course, the opportunity to be among the first to ring the bell!
Students, faculty and staff, alumni and community members are all welcome to join in this tradition.
Event details:
Monday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.
Commons Plaza
Free and open to the public!
A commemorative bell crafted with the help of campus
During Homecoming 2022, the Verdin Company came to campus to begin renovations to the Campanile. This included bringing a bell foundry on wheels to cast 10 bells, nine for the Campanile’s carillon and one for commemorative purposes. Those who were present for the fanfare may recall playing a part in crafting this instrument by passing ingots of brass that were melted down to create the bell.
Since then, the 10th bell — the Sesquicentennial Bell — has been waiting to make its grand re-entrance to campus. What better time than UNI’s celebration of its 150-year history!
A new tradition for UNI
Once the Sesquicentennial Bell is permanently installed on the Campanile Plaza, it will become a cherished touchpoint of the student experience.
The bell’s clapper will be absent from the bell for most of the year, but students will still be encouraged to rub the bell for good luck, such as right before finals. During traditional events such as Welcome Week and Commencement, the clapper will be re-installed in the bell. Students will “ring in” their UNI experiences at the beginning of the academic year, while graduating seniors will “ring out” their chapters as students and enter their alumni eras.