Storke Tower, What Does It Stand For?

	UCSB view across the water just after sunset by Bill Heller. During a 
holiday break, the Storke Tower and other landscapes lighting sill on.

Storke Tower is obviously the highest building on campus and Isla Vista.

The Storke Tower is 175 feet above the ground and hosts 61 bells. It provides underground housing for the Daily Nexus, KCSB-FM radio station, and the yearbook office. Also the Storke Tower surrounding often holds concerts, social events and student affairs.

The Storke Tower is named after Thomas More Storke who made this tower a reality.

According to an article from Los Angeles Time, this building was made possible with a $600,000 gift from Thomas M. Storke and his gift was matched by regents’ funds for a building designed to provide offices and work spaces for all student.

Who is Thomas More Storke?

			Thomas Storke Photo from UCSB Image Library 

Thomas More Storke has a deep connection with Santa Barbara. He was the seventh generation Californian and born in Santa Barbara.

While he strived in newspaper business,‘Daily News’, he also still had a sense of responsibility and wanted to make his home down a better place.

In the article TOM STORKE AT 90, Earl Warren commented on Thomas Storke saying “he is not only a hardy pioneer but a genial soul who loves the people of California and every foot of its soil”.

He was also known for his integrity and honesty to speak out and take a stand against the John Birch Society, a far-right extreme organization. In late 1960s, his name became the icon of that era and was written in America history.

In February 1961, he published a piece titled High Noon to directly call for a fight with the Society, and Storke wrote “The News-Press challenges them to tell their fellow citizens exactly what they are up to and specifically what program they have in mind for Santa Barbara” He had the gut to stand for himself and his deeds provoked many others to join in this crusade.

What does he wants us to remember?

To freely express our thoughts is a value he wanted to be significant at UCSB.

Students at UCSB should be free and safe to say what they wish, and to come up with novel ideas without any prohibitions. UCSB is meant to become an institution that, as described by Storke, “produces publications of national and international scope – for the enlightenment of civilized people everywhere” (Pandell).

Storke’s belief should inspire every student on campus and be reflected in UCSB’s Daily Nexus newspaper so that all Gauchos are fearless to express their own opinion.

As a placard positioned in front of the Stork Tower asserts “These bells ring for the freedom of the press and in tribute to Editor-Publisher Thomas More Storke, whose affection for the University made this building possible.”

Now that everyday I awake to the pleasant melodies come from Storke Tower, I would like to express gratitude and appreciation for the honorable man. I believe the best way to pay contribution is to be confident to share my voice and to pass down his belief to the future Gauchos.