Blog
6 Fun Facts about the Terrace
The time we’ve all been waiting for is here… Terrace season is here! You know that the Memorial Union Terrace is a great place to study, eat or simply relax, but what else do you know about everyone’s favorite Madison patio? We, at the Wisconsin Union, have collected some fun facts about our favorite place on Earth. Check them out below. In 2019 we certainly indulged at the Terrace… Memorial Union-goers enjoyed more than 10,000 pounds of popcorn, 40,000 burgers, 20,000 gallons of ice cream and frozen yogurt, and 1 million cups of...
read moreWelcome to the Terrace, Madison’s Largest Outdoor Restaurant
What to Know about Visiting during our Initial Reopening The Memorial Union Terrace will open for the 2020 Terrace season on June 22 with the beautiful lake view and Terrace chairs you love as well as some temporary, new practices. Photo by Bryce Richter. Photo provided by UW-Madison. Let’s rewind to March. At the Wisconsin Union, we never stop talking about Terrace season. Creating months of outdoor programming, dining and safe operations takes year-long planning. Just as we began to think about an opening date, a pandemic broke out across...
read moreBehind the Scenes: Union Essential Employees
While the doors of our buildings Memorial Union and Union South are closed for now, dozens of employees continue to work at both buildings to support our campus community and visitors. Their work is helping us still serve our community in a variety of ways and ensure our buildings are ready when we can welcome back Wisconsin Union members and guests. Take, for example, Brandon Kelly, the assistant director of restaurants at Union South. Before COVID-19, Brandon worked extensively with the Union team to complete projects like menu and recipe...
read moreEd Janairo Brings Dedication to Students and Education to Role of Chief Business Officer
Ed Janairo’s dedication to working with students, belief in the importance of education, and wish to use his expertise to make a difference took him on a professional journey of more than 15 years of higher education leadership roles. That journey led him to the Wisconsin Union, and, as of June 1, he now serves as our chief business officer. “Education is always ongoing. There will always be new questions to ask and answers to seek, and it’s important to recognize that we’ll never have all the answers. What’s vital is asking questions...
read moreA Place to Lead: Our 2020-21 Student Officers
By Maddie Boulanger Student leadership and shared governance are coded into our DNA, here at the Wisconsin Union. It’s who we are, and it’s a critical part of what makes us strong. We believe that the student voice in what we do makes us more innovative, more responsive to students’ needs and helps us stay true to our mission to welcome, engage and connect the campus community. Each year, we elect new student leaders to help guide us during the academic year, including three Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) officers. These officers oversee...
read morePride Month Wallpapers
Happy Pride Month! This month, our artists used their skills to create wallpapers to celebrate and recognize our LGBTQIA+ community. We are grateful for our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, staff, members and guests who contribute so much to our spaces and experiences. In 2019, we lit Memorial Union in honor of Pride Month. At the Wisconsin Union, we always strive to create environments that are safe and welcoming for all identities and are strongly committed to acting as the social heart of UW–Madison, where all belong. Inclusivity is one of our...
read moreNew Crane Installed on Union Lakefront
By Dave Elsmo In March, the Tong Family Marina project finished the installation of a 55-foot-tall, 5-ton crane, which will serve as a critical piece of infrastructure to the new lakefront. This marks the culmination of a four-year design and construction process led by the Wisconsin Hoofer Sailing Club and Wisconsin Union leadership. The Sailing Club knew early in the project that it would need to replace its aging crane to update programming and ensure the growth of educational offerings. After several design iterations, the Sailing Club...
read more5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know about ‘the People’s Diva’ Renée Fleming
Known as America’s favorite soprano, Renée Fleming brings seemingly effortless elegance and stage presence as she spans octaves and captivates audiences around the world. The chance to witness the four-time Grammy winner’s talent in-person will come to the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Shannon Hall in Memorial Union on Oct. 24 as part of the Theater’s Concert Series. While Renée’s list of accomplishments, from performing at a presidential inauguration to earning a Tony nomination, can feel endless, we will share five things you will not...
read moreFour Ways you Can Help Support Student Leadership and Experiences for a Lifetime
Despite all the changes of the past weeks, we are still here for you, creating events and activities and providing some services, such as pick-up dining options and Wiscard office hours. We treasure the opportunity to still serve you, create (online) experiences for a lifetime and provide student leaders with unmatched professional development opportunities. We wish we could gather with you in-person, but, as you may know, our buildings are closed until further notice due to COVID-19. We know that temporarily closing our buildings, markets...
read moreMental Health Awareness Month Wallpapers and GIFs
Beautiful and peaceful: these words came to mind when a Wisconsin Union artist shared this month’s wallpapers and GIFs that she created in honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month. This month and always, give yourself permission to self-care. So get lost in the music that moves you. Try that smoothie recipe you’ve been meaning to make. Hug your canine and feline members. Read a book that you want to read, not one that you have to read. These are investments in your well-being that you deserve. We, at the Wisconsin Union,...
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