Student Union Initiative Passes

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Marc Kennedy,

October 23, 2006 608 262-5079

STUDENT UNION INITIATIVE PASSES

University of Wisconsin-Madison students voted “yes” to an initiative that will preserve the stature of Memorial Union while significantly upgrade and renovate the nearly 80-year-old building and build a new “green” student union on the current site of Union South. According the paper ballot counted by Associate Students of Madison Student Election Commission, the Initiative passed by about 600 votes, 1671 to 900.

“We are ecstatic that students voted positively and thought beyond their pocketbook,” said Wisconsin Union President Shayna Hetzel. “We’re very proud of all of our student volunteers who helped get the word out, and equally proud of the Wisconsin student body, acting in the spirit of their predecessors of the 1920s who helped build Memorial Union. Now, we can all proudly say that we are indeed preserving the past and building the future.”

The Initiative will improve accessibility of Memorial Union as well as bring fire and safety conditions up to code and upgrade working conditions, install modern communications technology and increase meeting and storage space. Importantly, the level of commitment by students means that this renovation can happen comprehensively, and not piecemeal, one project at a time, added Hetzel, which will guarantee that the building can retain its historic ambience. Slightly more than half of the funding goes to renovating Memorial Union.

The passing also approves constructing a new south campus union that will be roughly twice as large as Union South. Based on student input, it will a “green” building -- one that is environmentally sustainable – and serve as a hub for activity on the south end of campus. Above all, since students will be funding more than half of the project, the new south campus union will remain a student union.

“Without the Initiative, repairs to Memorial Union would occur as funds are available, which would take longer and cost more in the long run,” said Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier. “And there are no guarantees that Union South would remain a student union. With the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery going up across the street, it’s obvious that some support services will be needed to address the demands of those who work there, and those visiting, attending conferences and meeting with UW scientists. Union South isn’t capable of handling the volume at present. Now thanks to student support, we can ensure that we’ll meet the needs of students and of the surrounding campus, including WID.”

Students voted to pay an additional $48 per semester for two years starting in fall 2007. Two years later, this will go up to $96 per semester for no more than 30 years. This will amount to approximately 58% of the project with the remainder coming from operating revenues and gifts. If more donations are forthcoming, the student contribution would decrease.

For more details of the plan, visit

For more information about the Student Union Initiative, contact Shayna Hetzel, , 715 570-1235, or Marc Kennedy, , 608 347-8630.

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