Pendulum in White Oak Hall out of motion.

The pendulum in White Oak Hall remains off limits and not in motion.

Who: Don Johnson and Cary Ponthione
What: The $35,000 Pendulum in White Oak Hall
Where: LBCC's College Campus in Albany, OR
When: April 2010

Why: Motion is delayed due to concern of the need for a railing.

Walk into White Oak Hall and you will notice a pendulum on a crate with no explanation of purpose. There is no marker posted yet to tell what the pendulum represents, or why it is not in motion.

The pendulum, in an atrium of LBCC's new math and science center, was made possible through the donation of $35,000 from LBCC's anonymous donor. The Mark 2 Foucault Pendulum, designed by Cary Ponthione, owner of Academy Pendulum Sales, is designed to blend art and science while representing the Earth's rotation.

The pendulum is not in motion because there is a fear of people getting smashed between the 235-pound brass, mirror polished ball and stairwell. The pendulum will not be put in motion until a railing is placed provided by Don Johnson, who is the architect of White Oak Hall.

The design that will go around the cement base will be put up soon. The base will explain the significance as the pendulum is in motion. And construction on White Oak Hall is expected to be completed in May 2011.

"I believe it was the math and science departments who had requested the pendulum. It is suppose to represent a swinging time circle of the Earth's rotation." explained Fred Haynes, Dean of Instructional Facilities Planning.

A magnetic current pulses through the ceiling, from where the pendulum hangs, giving the pendulum its' back and forth motion. The pendulum is in sync with the Earth's rotation which gives it the circular movement.

Cary Ponthione is one of the last people who designs these pendulums, according to LBCC's vice president, Jim Huckestein.

"The original concept of the pendulum is to give an artistic view of math and science." said Dan Lara, Dean of the Math Department.

According to Lara, there has been a concern with people touching the pendulum and a safety issue of someone being injured if walking on the platform between the pendulum and stairwell.

Jim Huckestein said "Don Johnson is looking at ways to design a safety rail that will have a stylish look for the pendulum."

As Lara mentioned, "LBCC's pendulum and new science buildings are designed to create student diverse gatherings and moments to blend ideas."

Lara explained that LBCC's administration wanted to create a place within the school to give the student body a "home away from home."

White Oak Hall will have couches and stylish sitting areas where all the diversities on LBCC's campus, such as math, science, art, and philosophy groups, can blend together in one building.