A fence has been constructed around the tower’s base to keep people away and to prevent injury in case anything happens, although the current danger is low, Nestle said.

“The primary concern is the bricks up on top getting loose, and something (like lightening) could now jar them loose,” he said.

The smokestack is part of the Shaw Lane Power Plant, which last operated in 1975. Since then, the tower has stood as a college landmark, often referenced as a navigation tool because of its central location. The letters MSC represent Michigan State College, the former name of MSU.

Officials are considering three possibilities for the structure. For $800,000, the smokestack could be taken down. An additional $50,000 would allow the bricks to be dismantled, saving the white bricks that spell “MSC.” Or, the structure could be repaired for $1.4 million dollars. The latter option would require an additional $10,000 a year for maintenance, a cost expected to increase with time.

Although the final decision will belong to Fred Poston, vice president for finance and operations, MSU is looking to the community to help with the decision. On Tuesday, alumni were informed by e-mail about the smokestack’s future and were directed to a website where they can provide feedback until mid-March, university spokesman Kent Cassella said.

“We’re looking for good ideas,” Cassella said. “(Such as) does anyone have a good idea on how to commemorate the smokestack.”

Response to the smokestack has been varied, said Scott Westerman, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association, in an e-mail.

“The vast majority (of alumni) agreed that it made much more sense to remove it rather than taking precious financial resources away from serving students to maintain a nonfunctioning asset,” Westerman said.

General management freshman Emily Bruinsma said despite the extra cost to preserve the building, she thinks the smokestack should be kept.

“I think it should be preserved,” Bruinsma said. “It’s history. It was there before it was even MSU.”