1.0   INTRODUCTION

A university is a community of persons who experience a range of significant life events that are often appropriately noted through ritual and ceremony. In a secular institution, the symbolic use of bells and flags on such occasions is both historical and appropriate, for example as with the death of a member of the community, or in the event of an academic gathering or ceremony. Regular use of such symbols also has historical academic roots.

2.0   STATEMENT OF POLICY

2.1  It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin-Stout that the hours and half-hours shall be sounded from the Bowman Hall Tower bells on Mondays through Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., and on Sundays from noon until 10:00 p.m.

Furthermore the hours, quarter hours, and half-hours will be sounded through the progressive ring of the Westminster Chimes on Mondays through Saturdays from 7:15 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12:15 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

2.2  A "Call to Assembly" doppler-ring on the "Honor" bell (F above Middle C) will be sounded from the Bowman Hall Tower immediately prior to the scheduled beginning of a special academic gathering, such as a commencement ceremony, an inauguration, or a gathering of all faculty, staff, and/or students. 

2.3  A "Celebration Peal" consisting of the ringing of tower bells in what is called the "American Peal", will be sounded from the Bowman Hall Tower at the conclusion of special on-campus academic gatherings, such as commencement ceremonies or inaugurations.

2.4  A "Funeral Toll" consisting of the striking of the James Huff Stout bell (C# above Tenor C) once every 15 seconds, will be sounded at an appropriate time from the Bowman Hall Tower for a five-minute period in recognition of the death of a member of the UW-Stout faculty, staff, student body, or an emeriti/retired group.

2.5  Campus flags will be lowered to half-staff in response to legitimate state or national calls for such action. 

2.6  The Bowman Hall Tower "Call to Assembly", "Celebration Peal", and "Funeral Toll" may be rung at times/circumstances other than those listed above at the direction of the Chancellor.  (It is expected that as a general rule, at any time these special bell peals are to be rung or flags lowered, the university and civic community will be informed of this intent.)

2.7.  Response to significant or catastrophic international, national, state, or campus events (i.e. vigils, etc.), may by be approved by the Chancellor.

2.8 Handling and display of the U.S. flag shall comply with the Federal Flag Code, which is the guide for handling and display of the United States Flag.

3.1  The Chancellor's Office is responsible for communicating to appropriate campus individuals the need to sound particular Bowman Hall Tower bell peals, and/or to lower campus flags.  Per UW System directive of January 2000 regarding lowering of campus flags to half-staff, the University Relations Office is responsible to notify the Governor's Office.