Blog
Governor’s Chief of Staff Brings Wisconsin Union Skills to the Capitol
Ten years ago, Maggie Gau ‘09 spent many mornings opening the doors to the Memorial Union as it welcomed its first guests of the day. Now, she arrives at the Wisconsin State Capitol each day as the chief of staff for Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. Growing up in Wausau, Wis., Maggie knew she was going to be a Badger from a young age. But, she also knew that, to make this dream possible, she would need to work while she pursued her higher education at the college of her dreams. This need led her to her first job at the Wisconsin Union:...
read moreA Partnership to Reduce Homelessness in the Madison Community
The Willis L. Jones Leadership Center (JLC) team aims to inspire and prepare students to work in partnership with others to positively transform themselves, their peers and their communities. While learning about leadership, the Center’s team and student leaders often find themselves inspired by heroic change-makers and brave community members with whom they come into contact. This can certainly be said of those the team and leaders have met through the Center’s partnership with Porchlight, a Madison-based, nonprofit agency that strives to...
read moreStaff Picks for Spring Creative Exploration at Wheelhouse
Just steps away from the iconic der Rathskeller in Memorial Union, Wheelhouse Studios serves as a sanctuary of creative exploration on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. This open arts studio provides everything from drop-in art opportunities to instructor-led classes. In this article, Wheelhouse team members share their picks for upcoming Wheelhouse classes that they recommend you check out! Mini-Comics Drawing Lab – March 4-8 $59.50 for Wisconsin Union members (including UW-Madison students), $69.50 for non-members Comics is...
read moreHelp Wanted: The Wisconsin Union Association (WUA) Wants You!
By Haley Mades If you’ve never heard of WUA, allow me to introduce you: WUA is a non-profit, educational corporation that represents the Wisconsin Unions’ 95,000 Members and Lifetime Members, including UW-Madison students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. The Wisconsin Union Association is governed by Trustees who are dedicated to keeping the Wisconsin Union’s traditions alive while fostering growth and innovation for all its members. This committed group is looking for someone with a particular set of skills and knowledge, and they’re...
read moreBehind the Scenes at the Union: Verne Scholl
From grab and go items to deli sandwiches, Wisconsin Union Markets and Cafés Division Director Verne Scholl and his team have made sure that you have access to the best grab-n-go items to fuel you throughout the day. I recently met with Verne who has been with the Union since September 1997 to talk about his time here and all that our markets and cafes across campus offer. What was your professional journey like before joining the Union team? I started off as a dishwasher and prep cook in restaurants and worked at private restaurants right up...
read moreReaching New Heights at the Union
You might see Union South as a place to study, grab some Ginger Root, or watch a game, but underneath the surface there is even more excitement happening. If you’ve ever eaten at the Sett, you’ve probably seen — through the glass panels — people making their way up a multi-story climbing wall. Head downstairs to Sett Recreation and you’ll find our bowling alley, pool tables, other games, and — to many people’s surprise — an indoor rock climbing wall. From beginners to pros, all are welcome at Sett Rec’s climbing wall. Zoe Jackson, the Sett...
read moreTips for Your Marquee Film-Watching Experience
Did you know there’s a movie theater right on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus that shows free films? Did you know that Wisconsin Union members, including students; staff; and faculty are invited to come enjoy these films? Located on the second floor of Union South, The Marquee can seat up to 330 guests for near-daily film screenings. From blockbusters like “Crazy Rich Asians,” which packed the theater, to cult films like “The Room,” students and community members alike flock to the plush, red seats. In this article, I am sharing...
read moreThe Ultimate Wisconsin Union Bucket List
Bucky Badger poses for a photo while the UW Marching Band performs on the Terrace stage. We get it, seniors — you’ve made it this far, all you’re looking for now is a straight shot to graduation. But you’ve still got time to experience at all the fun stuff available at Memorial Union and Union South. We’ve come up with the ultimate bucket list so you can toss that mortarboard with no regrets. 1. Marquee Cinema Sometimes scrolling through Netflix to find the perfect movie takes more time than actually watching it. Luckily, Union South’s...
read moreTrustee Stories: David Cross
Wisconsin Union Association Trustee David Cross, in many ways, grew up at the Wisconsin Union’s Memorial Union. From summers spent in a residential community along the Lake Mendota shoreline, called the Tent Colony, to Sunday afternoons at the Memorial Union Terrace, David’s ever-growing love for the Union carries on today through his work as a trustee. David’s fondest memories of the Union come from his childhood summers spent living in the Tent Colony. From 1912 until 1962, married students and their families could camp along the Lake...
read moreExperience Art Immersion with the Wisconsin Union
Art is all around at the Wisconsin Union’s Union South and Memorial Union. It’s in our three galleries. It’s on our walls. It’s in our theater and arts events. And, in some places, it’s even on our floors and ceilings. From the beginning, the Union team endeavored to incorporate art into the everyday lives of the students, faculty, staff and guests who visit the Wisconsin Union’s facilities. That was the first Wisconsin Union director’s vision, and it stands true today, more than 90 years after the opening of the Union’s first building,...
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