A fountain and pedestrian plaza will be erected at Southeast Missouri State University within the next two to three years.

It is a $30,000 gift from Dr. Kala Stroup and her husband, Joe.

Kala Stroup is stepping down as the university's president to take a job as Missouri commissioner of higher education. She begins her new job next week.

Stroup told a luncheon meeting of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club that she and her husband wanted to leave a visible reminder of their "love for the area" and the university.

The Board of Regents accepted the gift in principle last Friday, subject to later approval of an architectural design and other details.

The fountain would be the centerpiece of a small pedestrian mall between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Normal Avenue in front of Academic Hall.

Normal would remain open to traffic, except that what is now an open, median area between Academic Hall and Kent Library would be closed to motorists.

Ron Clayton of the school's art faculty will design the fountain.

Stroup envisions a fountain of limestone and granite.