The University received 26 letters from the Recording Industry of America Association on Friday for students the association suspects of pirating music.

It may be the largest batch of letters sent since the association expanded its campaign in February 2007. Previous waves of letters targeted about 400 students each, according to news releases on the association’s Web site.

Students who receive the letters are identified after investigators download music available on the students’ computers, spokesman Jonathan Lamy said.

Upon receiving the letters, students have the option of paying several thousand dollars to avoid going to court and potentially facing higher penalties.

- Carolyn Crist

Chapel Bell down until football starts

The clang of the University’s Chapel Bell will be silenced while repairs are made to the bell and its tower. Officials promise the bell will return for the first football game Aug. 30.

The 173-year-old bell will be removed from its tower behind the Chapel and shipped to a foundry for cleaning and reconditioning.

The work on the area that houses the bell is also necessary to ensure the 700-pound bronze bell does not come loose from its moorings, which happened after football fans gave it what officials called a “vigorous” workout following the football team’s win over Florida.

- University News Services