“I’m happy that it’s back,” said communications senior Brittany Johnson. “I mean it’s pretty but I’m just wondering what took so long. No one told us what’s going on. Hopefully it stays.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“I first saw the fountain on yesterday and it’s really pleasant, actually,” said mass communications graduate student Sam Scott. “I’ve been here for two semesters and it’s been off the whole time. It’s been kind of strange to have this giant fountain that’s been off. Now that it’s on, it creates an entirely different mood and there are a lot of students around.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“It’s great. It’s my first time seeing it,” said chemical engineering junior Halima Shittu. “I’ve never seen it on since I’ve been here.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“It’s much better back on,” said computer engineering junior Tega Asagba. “Most students are here hanging around and chilling, listening to the water fall and talking to friends while they wait for classes. I never saw anyone around this area, most people just walked right through and no one used to stop and talk here before.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“I’m just waiting for it to turn back off, so every day I will come until it turns off,” said health senior Emily Miller. “I know they’ve tried to fill it this year and it never happened, so now that it’s on, I’ll come as long as it’s on. I don’t have faith in it since the white squirrel died, the fountain’s back on, everything’s weird. It’ll probably turn off again soon.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“It’s so relaxing,” said supply chain technology sophomore Luis Navarrete. “There’s so many people out here. It’s pretty cool to see it back on. I was just about to post a picture of everything on my Snapchat since it’s been off for so long. It’s a nice day out and people can just sit around.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“I’m very happy,” said education senior Magda Jimenez. “I love it and I feel like it’s never on. I didn’t know it had been off for the last two years.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
“I love the fountain,” said education senior MaryHelen Fouty. “The weather is helping it a lot. There’s so many people around and I love everyone being together in one place.” | Tiffany Wang/The Cougar
The Cullen Family Plaza Fountain and Reflection Pool was filled over spring break after sitting empty for the majority of the past two years.
Many students flocked to the fountain Tuesday morning, and several said it was their first time seeing it filled during their time at the University. The fountain was donated by the Cullen family in 1972 and has been periodically plagued with leaks and faulty mechanical systems.
After being put back into service on March 14, the fountain will remain in testing mode with the possibility of short outages until further notice, said David Oliver, associate vice president for Facilities and Construction Management. Oliver said the school is also looking into upgrading the LED lights for more cost-effective and controllable options.
While students lounged around the edge of the fountain, workers were systematically testing its jets.
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