Thousands of students and faculty have signed petitions against the fencing. The plan calls for fencing all the way around the Loeb Fountain, just north of Stone Hall. Youngman said the fence panels would have blocked vistas that are created by the concrete uprights. Also, pedestrians would have been unable to walk through when the water is turned off, which also was part of his vision. During Youngman's inspection Friday, students gathered names on petitions, protesting the fence proposal.
Students feel an identity with it.
The sculpture, however, was not designed for recreational use, Kjonaas said. The uprights have sharp corners and the drain grating can be slick when it's wet. Still, it has become a campus tradition to run through the center. Kjonaas said the university, as the property owner, has a legal and moral obligation to protect children from hazards. Posting warning signs is not enough.