Wells sculpture dedicated

During his eight decades at IU, late University Chancellor Herman B Wells used to walk through campus frequently, admiring the beauty of the school he helped shape.\nNow a likeness of Wells, who died March 18, will always be among the woods surrounding his Owen Hall office.\nSaturday morning, University leaders unveiled and dedicated the Herman B Wells Sculpture and Plaza, located between the Rose Well House and Owen Hall.\nThe life-sized sculpture of Wells shows him sitting on a park bench, with his hat at one side and his other arm raised, as if engaged inconversation. \nSculptor Tuck Langland, art professor at IU -South Bend, said the piece represents Wells in his prime, during either his late sixties or early seventies. During the sculpting process, he said something greater then the physical materials shone through.\n"Somebody began to emerge in my studio and look back at me everyday," Langland said. "He made the people around him feel good about themselves. It makes people who never knew him feel good about themselves."\nUniversity administrators at the ceremony included Trustees President John Walda, IU President Myles Brand and IU Foundation President Curtis Simic.\nBrand, who called Wells a "long-term guiding light" spoke about the former president's accomplishments and his lasting impact on the Hoosier community.\n"He transformed a small Midwest college into a research university of world-wide renown," Brand said. "The values by which he lived are as valid today as 75 years ago."\nSimic and Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis mentioned Wells' disdain for public recognition. Even though Wells disliked the attention, this also added to his charm, they said. \nSimic said when they first approached him about the project his modesty was evident.\n"In typical fashion, he responded by saying, 'They can certainly find something better to do with the money.'" Simic said. "We convinced him that his likeness situated here would help protect the campus trees for future generations. \n"He responded by saying, 'Good. Now, can we get rid of that bust in front of Kirkwood Hall? I've always feared that I really looked like that.'"\nRobert LeBien, chairman of the Sculpture Committee, said he got the idea during a basketball game at Assembly Hall in 1996. When LeBien saw Wells sitting in his typical spot, he realized one day Wells would not be there.\n"I wanted to tastefully perpetuate his physical presence for all time," LeBien said. "This sculpture is about Dr. Wells, the man and his presence -- not on a pedestal above us -- but on a park bench among us"