In recognition of Washington State University’s 125th anniversary and to mark the success of an extensive fundraising campaign, the WSU Foundation plans to erect a commemorative fountain on the Pullman campus by fall 2015.

The Campaign for WSU began July 2006 and has collected nearly 750,000 gifts given by more than 193,000 private donors to WSU. The project’s goal is to raise $1 billion for university research and development before June 30, 2015; although project leaders expect the goal to be met much sooner, surpassing it significantly.

The fountain will be built at the west end of the Glenn Terrell Mall in front of Murrow Hall, and will cost an estimated $900,000.

The fountain is meant to symbolize the generosity of donors and the university’s place among top public research institutions. It would additionally serve as an important new landmark and meeting place for current and future students, said Trevor Durham, vice president of university development.

“There are a lot of people who spend their lives here, and it has to be more than just a concrete slab,” Durham said. “The overall look of a campus is an important factor in recruiting students.”

Project Manager Cynthia Arbour said the location of the fountain was determined after many other sites failed to meet certain criteria, including visibility and utility access.

The fountain will feature a thin, multi-level sheet of water, scattered with vertical water jets and rocks of varying sizes. Three shorter walls with seating and one large wall will contain the fountain. The large wall will be 20 feet long, five feet tall and it will be engraved with a brief explanation of The Campaign for WSU.

There are some who believe the fountain is a misuse of funds, considering the ultimate goal of the university and the campaign is to provide higher education to those who seek it.

Christopher Gambino, a graduate student who has worked to raise awareness and discussion of the project, said instead of building a trophy in honor of providing 125 years of education, the money would be better used to directly fund the education of prospective students.

The money spent on the fountain would cover 32 students’ tuition and fees for two semesters.

Gambino said an open forum where students could suggest ideas to the administration as to how the campaign funds should be used would be more beneficial to current and future students.

“I am behind celebrating this campaign and anniversary, but I would be surprised if anybody mentioned this fountain on a list of things to improve WSU,” Gambino said. “We have the money being funneled for a fountain; why not funnel it into scholarships instead?”

As for the next fundraising campaign for the university, Durham said the plan is to use the momentum of the last decade to swing into the next project.

“We’ll be re-evaluating the campaign, seeing what worked and what didn’t, and getting back out there to reach the next milestone,” Durham said.