Since 1928, the Union has been an important part of the campus community. Long considered the campus “living room,” the Memorial Union and Union South serve thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who continue the tradition of attending art exhibits in Union galleries, meeting friends and future spouses on the Terrace or in der Rathskeller, taking an outdoor course with Hoofers, attending a world-class performance in the Union Theater, hearing a distinguished guest lecturer or simply enjoying a sunset over Lake Mendota.
Much more than just a building, the Union is a learning laboratory, a place where students discover ideas, learn new skills and apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations through creating, promoting and managing more than 1,000 events annually through Wisconsin Union Directorate committees, including art exhibits, film, music, guest lectures and service-learning opportunities. UW-Madison is known for producing more Peace Corps volunteers and business leaders than any other university. The Wisconsin Union provided a place that allowed this type of student leadership to flourish and grow
Preserving the Past – Building the Future
In the fall of 2006, the students of the University of Wisconsin-Madison mounted a campaign – Preserving the Past – Building the Future. The purpose being to renovate Memorial Union while maintaining its historic integrity, and to build a new south campus Union. Through a referendum to increase segregated fees, students voted to preserve and enhance the Memorial Union’s historic ambiance, while bringing the building up to code. They also voted to rebuild the south campus Union to meet the campus’s growing needs and reflect the future in green technology. However, student fees will only cover 58 percent of construction costs.
The Wisconsin Union is a self-supporting organization that does not receive state tax dollars. The Union relies on the generosity of those who know and appreciate the Union’s place as the “heart and soul” of the UW-Madison through private gifts that provide the Union with the resources to enhance existing programs and to renovate facilities. Previous gifts have been used to remodel meeting rooms, enhance the Memorial Union Terrace, purchase artwork, and support student leadership. Current priorities for private support include the following projects:
