On Thursday morning, students on their morning walk to class may have noticed a plethora of suds forming a white mountain in the center of Bison Square. Under the mound of bubbles sits the Osman Fountain, one of campus’ newest additions.
The new fountain became the target of its first prank.
Currently, there are no written rules regarding students’ behavior around or in the new Osman Fountain.
But that is not an invitation to vandalism. In fact, the university is relying on students’ personal sense of ethics to prevent any pranks or disrespect aimed at the new campus centerpiece.
Before the incident on Thursday took place, Senior Vice President for Student Development Scott McDowell referred to the book of Matthew when talking about the administration’s expectations for student behavior around the fountain.
“I would say the only rule is the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you,’” McDowell said.
McDowell recognized that students could potentially vandalize the fountain, but to McDowell, that would be against that Golden Rule.
Over the summer, construction began and concluded on the new addition to campus in the middle of Bison Square. The fountain was built in memory of Ty Osman, II, a Harding University student who died in March 2012 at the age of 18.
His parents Ty Sr. and Nancy Osman, Lipscomb alums, gave a gift to begin construction of the fountain to be raised in their son’s memory.
The fountain is used as a centerpiece to campus as well as baptistery. Baptisms have been taking place since IMPACT 2013 was held at Lipscomb in June.
“The baptistery has already been put into use during IMPACT, and with several sports teams like women’s soccer and cross country and track,” McDowell said.
Placed in the center of campus, students can’t help but notice the new addition, and McDowell said that there are no formal rules in place regarding it. That doesn’t mean there we’rent worries before Thursday’s incident.
“Dyes would ruin the fountain, and soap would be a major mess,” McDowell said.
On top of vandalism being a hassle, it would also create much more work for the men who take care of that mess.
“There are working-class guys who would be doing the jobs, and we don’t want to make them do more,” McDowell said.
McDowell made it clear that the main rule of the fountain is that it should be respected.
“It is a sacred place, and we are asking people to respect it,” McDowell said.
Not only respected for Lipscomb’s sake, but also for the memory of Ty Osman, II.
“It should be respected for the Osman family,” McDowell said.
However, Associate Dean of Students Sam Smith said before the incident on Thursday that the only real worry he had about the fountain would be vandalism from schools competing against Lipscomb.
“A big worry would be other teams vandalizing the fountain,” Smith said.
McDowell finds the fountain to be a beautiful addition to campus.
“I was afraid it would be loud, but it isn’t. It is beautiful,” McDowell said. “I also think students kind of like it and appreciate it.”
The administration only asks respect from the students when it comes to the fountain.
“Nothing is in writing. There is no big rule,” McDowell said. “We are expecting our students to enjoy it and treat it like something special.”
Update: Sept. 17, 2013
“What I will say is that while I know the prank was good-natured and purely intended as a harmless, funny thing, it did create a great deal of work for our maintenance staff. Per our earlier conversation, that gets back to the golden rule and thinking through the repercussions,” Senior Vice President for Student Development Scott McDowell said in a statement in regards to last Thursday’s incident.