Blog
Skate Away on Your Next Outdoor UW Adventure
Looking for a new way to celebrate the winter season at the Wisconsin Union? Glide into a new activity with Outdoor UW – ice skating on Lake Mendota! There’s no better way to enjoy the outdoors and the company of friends than by cruising across the ice in front of Memorial Union, savoring the fresh air. And the best part is, you won’t have to invest in skates just to enjoy a few sessions on the lake – you can just rent them at Outdoor UW for a low hourly fee. “We’re excited to be introducing another opportunity to have people coming to the...
read moreSouper Supporters: Wheelhouse Artists Create Bowls for UW–Madison Habitat for Humanity
As their hands sculpted soft clay into beautiful bowls, Wheelhouse Studios artists, hobbyists and students helped shape the future of a local family on Oct. 9 by crafting handmade bowls. Their donated creations will be sold as a part of a fundraiser for the University of Wisconsin–Madison chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The event, titled the Souper Bowl, is the chapter’s largest annual benefit to raise money toward the construction of a home for a Dane County family in need. On Feb. 4, 2023, UW–Madison Habitat for Humanity will be hosting...
read morePrinting Up a Storm: StudentPrint Celebrates 50 Years
The world has seen a lot of change over the past half-century – and StudentPrint (SP) has been there for it all. SP started as a source for printing protest materials in 1972 and has seen its share of social and technological revolution. Through many transformations, the campus print shop has continued its role as the best spot in Madison for deals on all types of printing jobs. Whether it’s stickers, posters, T-shirts, or copies, SP’s 50 years of expertise extends far beyond paper projects to bring high quality products to meet every need....
read moreRecognition and Visibility: Introducing the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council Rooms at Memorial Union
Memorial Union may have opened its doors for the first time in 1928 – almost a century ago – but its historic halls have been a space for change since their creation. This decade is no exception. As the social center and living room of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus that hosts thousands of student and community groups’ events each year, Memorial Union serves as a space for learning and important gatherings. In July 2021, two integral campus organizations – the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Multicultural Greek...
read moreMy April Event Picks
Now that the sun is shining brighter and setting later, the excitement of summer is just around the corner. To help with the unpredictable seasonal transition, we at the Wisconsin Union, as always, has a packed event calendar this April. Here is my April Wisconsin Union events bucket list, I hope you choose to join in on one…or many! April 2 – Outdoor Explorer Series: Birding and Animal Tracking To kick off the month of April, Outdoor UW is hosting a birding and tracking class in the Mendota Lodge. This class will enhance...
read moreTrail Tales: Update from the Wisconsin Hoofers
From no experience to a club history-making first. Before joining the Hoofer Riding Club, University of Wisconsin–Madison Mara Bunderson had no equestrian experience. This summer, she competed in the International Horse Show Association National Championships. A member of the Wisconsin Hoofers’ Wisconsin Equestrian Team, she took first place in the Hunter Seat Individual Introductory Equitation Division. “It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since I was little but didn’t have the opportunity to until now,” Mara said. “This is my first...
read moreNew Dining Option Brings Naan Stop Deliciousness to Downtown Madison
After trying Naan Stop Express this past Thursday, I will be returning, naan stop. I stopped into Medical Sciences between classes and ordered the chicken tikka masala entree with saffron rice and garlic naan. The warmth of the meal was perfect for the chilly fall air, a necessary addition to my day. Located right in the center of campus, Naan Stop Express is quick, filling and delicious. There are two entree options, small and large. The small option includes one entree choice, rice and naan bread and the large adds an additional entree...
read moreFind Your People and Leadership Opportunities through the Wisconsin Union Directorate
Students are asking: Where can I find my people, the people I enjoy spending time with and could be forever friends? Some are also asking, where can I find hands-on opportunities to hone my skills and learn new ones? There’s one answer to both of these questions: the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD). What is WUD (pronounced like “wood”)? It’s called a programming board, meaning the student leaders creating programming. In the case of WUD, they create more than 1,000 events a year. Students have lots of options when it comes to...
read moreBob Wright’s Retiring!
Robert Wright’s career has been filled with friendship, memories and hard work. From scuba diving in Lake Mendota and volunteering in Belize to managing Sett Recreation, Bob’s commitment to the Wisconsin Union has left an incredible impact on the community. Now, some 40 years later, Wright has plans to return to South America, following his retirement in winter 2024. Sett Recreation in Union South is home to bowling lanes, pool tables and games. Sett, meaning a badger’s den, mimics the feeling of an animal’s habitat by being located...
read moreEvents That Will Have You Falling for Fall Vibes 🍂
It’s officially the season when we exchange our flip-flops for boots, and pumpkin spice becomes a food group ☕️. So bundle up, and gear up for fall fun at Wisconsin Union events! Gather your crew to enjoy it all, or find your crew at experiences for a lifetime. Free Pumpkin Carving, Oct. 23 Carve a pumpkin outside of Union South! Hosted by the Wisconsin Union Directorate Global Connections Committee. Open to all students, staff, faculty, and Wisconsin Union members, including day members (day membership available for $1 per person at...
read moreSave the Date to Flock Together to Make a Difference: Fill the Hill, Oct. 24-25
Once upon a time, some clever students filled an iconic University of Wisconsin–Madison location, Bascom Hill, with plastic, pink flamingos to welcome students to campus. In homage to the sassy scholars, once a year, Badgers and Badgers-at-heart around the world fill Bascom Hill with pink flamingos again; but with a twist the tradition’s inventors never predicted. Starting at 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 through 5. p.m. on Oct. 25, each gift designated for the nonprofit Wisconsin Union funds and other University efforts will add a flamingo to...
read moreWisconsin Union Theater presents cinematic shadow puppet and music company’s reimagining of ‘Frankenstein’
The worlds of film, music, shadow puppetry and theater combine in Manual Cinema’s performance of “Frankenstein” on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union, as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) 2024-2025 season. The Manual Cinema production combines Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” with biographical elements from Shelley’s life. The Emmy Award-winning team’s reimagining retains the original novel’s themes of life, love and death. The idea for Manual Cinema’s “Frankenstein” began with ensemble Co-Artistic...
read moreCheck Out the Wisconsin Union’s Coolest Campus Cafés
The University of Wisconsin–Madison can feel overwhelming at times due to the sizable campus and large student population. As a first-year student, I often felt lost among all the confusing buildings, longing for a space to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee in between class. Luckily, I stumbled across the Robin’s Nest in the School of Human Ecology and found a small space of comfort amongst my hectic schedule. The Robin’s Nest was very convenient for that one semester. However, classes changed, and I was left wondering if other pockets of...
read moreIntroducing the Union Flex Dining Plan
Students living outside of residence halls and the people who help students thrive at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, this story is for you. Imagine: you’re a student out of the residence halls for the first time, officially on your own. It’s a busy week at school, and you have plans to meet friends for Open Mic in der Rathskeller and stay out late. But you haven’t had time to plan meals or go grocery shopping, and gone are the days of being able to stop by your residence cafeteria. Enter the Union Flex Dining Plan created by us at the...
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