Numerous signs posted last weekend around Knapp-Storms residence halls announcing the destruction of the two Towers turned out to be untrue.

Frances Scott, hall director for Knapp Hall, said she believed students posted the signs as a “prank.” She said the signs probably were posted during the night, and that most of her staff realized they were a joke.

“I don’t know [why the signs were posted], other than to just make a prank,” Scott said.

Steve Wisener, hall director for Storms Hall, said joke signs usually are not posted around the hall.

“It was no big deal,” he said. “Most students don’t have a lot of time to go around posting funny little things, but someone obviously did that weekend,” he said.

Wisener said his staff knew the signs were not approved by the Department of Residence, and that most of their residents figured out the signs were a rumor.

Most staff members were instructed to take down the signs and to reassure residents they were not true. Scott said all of the signs were removed the day they were discovered.

It is suspected the signs were posted in part because of the elaborate renovation planned for Maple Hall, which is closing later this year, Scott said.

“Unfortunately, it’s a breeding ground for rumor,” she said.

Scott said she is not aware of any major repairs planned for Knapp-Storms in the near future. Although the “master plan,” which may include extensive repairs to the Towers residence halls, is in the hands of ISU President Martin Jischke, she said.

“I am very secure that Knapp-Storms will be standing next year,” she said.

In cases such as Maple Hall, Scott said residence staff and residents were kept well-informed of future plans for the Maple Hall’s renovation.

Scott said there was at least one sign posted on every floor of Knapp, and other signs were placed around the Knapp-Storms Commons. A total of nearly 60 signs were posted.

Antonia Antoniou, freshman in pre-engineering and a resident of Storms Hall, said she didn’t believe the signs when she saw them because she was with her resident assistant at the time.

“Our RA told us it’s not valid,” she said.

Amy Nielsen, freshman in zoology and a resident of Knapp Hall, said she was not sure whether to believe the signs.

“It didn’t look like it was professionally done,” Nielsen said.

Scott agreed the signs did not look official, and that they did not carry the label “Department of Residence.”

“They looked like newspaper clippings that had been enlarged,” Scott said, adding that a caption underneath the faux article stated Towers residents were surprised Knapp-Storms Halls would be shut down for renovations.

As for the perpetrator of the antic, Scott said her staff has decided to disregard the prank. She added that her staff has received no information concerning possible suspects.