Memorial Union celebrates 75th anniversary

Since Memorial Union opened its doors on Oct. 5, 1928, it has served as a center of social, cultural, educational and recreational activities on the UW–Madison campus, as well as a cornerstone of the Madison community.

The Wisconsin Union will honor that achievement, as well as many others, as part of its 75th anniversary celebration. The Anniversary Kickoff Weekend Oct. 4-5 will serve as the official opening of the celebration and events will run all the way through spring 2004.

The campus community and visitors will get a glimpse into the organization’s future, as well as its past.

“Throughout our anniversary, we will do more than celebrate milestones of the past,” says Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier. “We’ll also pursue innovative new programs and services that underscore our commitment to being a leader among college unions.”

Later this fall, the Union will release the findings of a master planning process that explored the needs and opportunities at the current facilities, as well as the possibility of expansion.

“We want to focus on how we plan to solve some serious needs at the Memorial Union and Union South caused by wear and tear, age, heavy use and increased demand for space,” Guthier says.

This continues a longtime tradition of the Union and the university community responding to campus needs. In the early 1900s, the YMCA, and then a house near the corner of Langdon and Park streets, served as a gathering place for instructors and students.

After World War I, the Board of Regents decided on a union as the designated memorial to honor students and faculty who died in the war, and authorized a nationwide campaign to raise money to construct the building. More than half of students in the 1920s pledged $50 or more toward building the Memorial Union. Nearly $1 million was raised.

As the construction approached completion in 1927, the University Committee on the Union, composed of students and faculty, developed a constitution for the new Union. The purpose of the facility, they wrote, was to provide a common life and cultivated social program for students, faculty, alumni and patrons. It created a governing board with a student majority and a student chairperson, a unique concept then and now. The Board of Regents authorized a fee for the operations and maintenance of the Union.

On Oct. 5, 1928, Memorial Union formally opened its doors.

With the long-awaited opening of the Union Theater, the termination of the Union Board and the establishment of two organizations — the Wisconsin Student Association student board and the Wisconsin Union Directorate — 1939 was an eventful year.

As the campus expanded in the ’50s and ’60s, the pressure increased for a second Union building to serve students and faculty headquartered at the western end of the campus. Union South opened in 1971, joining Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union organization.

Now the Union fulfills two fundamental missions: to provide services such as food, lounge areas, meeting rooms, games areas, telephones and programming that complements classroom learning, and to provide opportunities for social, cultural and recreational experiences.

The importance of these roles in university life will be celebrated in a series of events that kick off Saturday, Oct. 4. These include a display of “Terrace Chairs on the Town,” large-sized chairs decorated by local artists, and the Sunday, Oct. 5, announcement of the results of the contest to name a 75th anniversary ice cream flavor. More than 1,100 suggestions for new flavors were submitted and more than 1,600 people voted for their choice out of the top five finalists. For more on the chair display, see page 5.

For information and a complete schedule: http://www.union.wisc.edu/75.

75th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend Festivities

Saturday, Oct. 4

9:30 p.m.-midnight: “Black Elephant,” a hip-hop band, will perform on the Terrace (or in the Rathskeller if weather is inclement)

Midnight-2 a.m.: 16mm cartoons will be shown in the Stiftskeller, along with a free breakfast (waffles, juice, coffee and bacon). A buffet line will be set up in the Trophy Room.

Sunday, Oct. 5

Noon-5 p.m.: Big screen TVs will be set up in the Rathskeller and Stiftskeller for the Packer game. At halftime Union President Hilary Berwick and Union Director Mark Guthier will announce the winning ice cream flavor. Free ice cream and cake will be provided. There will also be a 75th anniversary trivia quiz with prizes.

3-5 p.m.: As soon as the game ends, Spazztet, a jazz band from Chicago, will perform on the Rathskeller or Terrace stage, depending on the weather.