While the memories may last, senior class gifts often do not.

Recently renovations began on the Class of 1925's senior gift, the memorial gateway at Pugh Street and College Avenue.

Crumbling mortar and natural wear and tear on the monument are behind the repairs, said Thomas Flynn, landscape architect and member of the Senior Class Gift Committee.

Flynn said that maintaining class gifts is a priority for Office of Physical Plant (OPP).

"We realize how important class gifts are to the students and alumni," he said. "We give class gifts a high priority."

Another gift that has recently come under disrepair is the Class of 1900's gift -- wooden benches situated around campus.

Although this year's Senior Class Gift Committee designated replacement of the benches a choice for this year's gift, it lost out to improving Willard Plaza.

Amber Krieg, senior class gift advisor, said that this was not the first year the proposal was made, but so far, no class has accepted it. OPP has maintained the benches in the past, but agrees they need to be replaced.

Funding for class gift renovations comes from OPP's major maintenance fund. OPP pays for and completes necessary renovations on any class gifts. Funds are not allocated for renovations by the Senior Class Gift Committee each year, except in special cases.

The Senior Class Gift Committee consists of seniors and university officials.

For example, the 2002 Senior Class Gift Committee created a maintenance endowment to upkeep their gift of on-campus historic street clocks. Members of the committee said after the installation of the final clock, the remaining money in the fund will go to the maintenance endowment.

Krieg said the clocks were a special case in which maintenance funds were needed.

"What happens if a clock breaks down?" she said. She said that since the clocks have intricate mechanics that may need frequent repairs, the committee thought it was necessary to allocate specific funds.

Krieg also said setting aside maintenance funds for class gifts would be a consideration in the future.

This year's senior class voted to fund the improvement of Willard Plaza on Pollock Road, but money is not being set aside for maintenance, Krieg said.

While some senior classes choose to give scholarships and endowments, many gifts that are selected by the seniors are "brick and mortar gifts," Flynn said. Some of these gifts include the Allen Street gates, the HUB aquarium, and the Nittany Lion Shrine.

Some students disagree with the concept of donating a gift as a way of leaving a legacy at the school.

"I don't think the class gifts are that great," said Matt Kehler (senior-psychology). "I think they are kind of tacky."

Others feel the gifts are important.

Wally Grabowski (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said, "[Senior class gifts] give students a chance to give something back to the school."

Krieg emphasized the importance of maintaining the gifts, saying that many have become major landmarks on campus.

"Imagine having to take away the gifts of the gates or the Lion Shrine," she said.