When students returned to the University this semester, they may not have realized that a part of Penn State tradition was missing -- and still is.

The "bells" at Old Main have not worked since this semester began, Director of University Relations Karen Rugh said.

While the Old Main bells remain in the tower, the actual ringing of the bells heard across campus is an electronic reproduction sent through loudspeakers, Rugh said. Because the broken part had to be ordered from the manufacturer, there has been a delay in restoring the bell sound.

Amy Olenick, an administrative assistant in the Office of Physical Plant, said she is uncertain when the bells will sound again, but she said they will be fixed as soon as the part arrives.

The bells have been ringing every 15 minutes since 1895 when the original Old Main was built, said Michelle Dzyak, information aide at the Penn State Archives.

The Department of University Relations has received few complaints or inquiries about the situation, Rugh said.

"Some people in Old Main have realized that (the bells) aren't ringing," Rugh said. But very few, if any, students or faculty members have called, she added.

The Office of Physical Plant has not received any reaction to the missing bells either, Olenick said.

"I think (the lack of response) is because it's wintertime, and people are now rushing from place to place -- not sitting outside listening to the bells," Rugh said.

But Michael Lucci (freshman-business administration) immediately noticed the bells were not ringing.

"I was suprised, because I was up here during summer session, and the windows were always open," he said. "You could hear the bells ring all day. It was a big disappointment when they didn't ring this semester."