A piece of ceiling plaster fell in Old Central and hit Raymond E. Bivert on the head and barely missed Paul Miller and Clement E. Trout, all associated with the journalism department. This led to the temporary closing of the building and its first renovation project.

Oklahoma A&M College President Bradford Knapp suggested that Old Central be leveled and a bell tower be erected in its place. He also pushed to build a student union, a football stadium and a gymnasium for intramural competition.

Although his proposals were approved by the regents, most were not implemented. Knapp's successor at president, Henry Bennett, would make a name for himself by saving Old Central from demolition.