Blog
Shake Up your Group Outing with the Wisconsin Union
Planning your next corporate gathering or team-building get-together? We, the Wisconsin Union team, invite you take shake up your outing with our affordable activities. You can join us for one activity, or we can work with you to create a package tailored to your team’s needs. (“Trust falls” not included.) Cheryl Fanning, the director of member sales and service at the UW Credit Union, recently took her team outside of the “trust fall” with the Union’s most popular group event: instructor-led painting at Wheelhouse Studios. With this event,...
read moreA User’s Guide to the Terrace
Some people rely on Groundhog Day to determine when spring will finally bloom. But at the Wisconsin Union, we have our own method to signify the start of a new season: The return of the Terrace chairs. Though a late April snowstorm delayed the Terrace opening, we were thrilled to see everyone line up to carry the famous chairs out to the Terrace April 24. Since then, the green, orange and yellow chairs have been filled with students, faculty, alumni, families and more every day. More than just a pretty face, the Terrace has dozens of...
read moreBehind the Scenes at the Union: Riley Garcia
Badger Bash, March Madness watch parties, live music and more. These are just some of the events at Sett Pub. While you’re enjoying the exciting life of a Badger, there are countless people who work behind the scenes to bring you the best Wisconsin Union experience possible. We would like to introduce you to one of those people. His name is Riley Garcia, and he is the general manager of the Sett Pub. In this article, we’ll tell you more about him and how he keeps Sett Pub running smoothly. What does your position as general manager entail? I...
read moreTaste of the Union: Vegan Fare
When you think of the Wisconsin Union, you may think of the Ginger Root team serving its famous sesame chicken or der Rathskeller with its burgers and cheese curds. But, did you know that Union South’s and Memorial Union’s restaurants and cafes have many delicious vegan options that, whether you’re vegan or not, will have you writing odes to veggies? We had our entire community’s dietary needs in mind when we created our menus. I tried some of the vegan fare at Memorial Union and Union South to give you a first-hand look at each item. (It’s a...
read moreWisconsin Union Team Provides Insider’s Look at Graduation Weekend
By Jade Anthony and Shauna Breneman Long before University of Wisconsin-Madison seniors receive their diplomas, our effort at the Wisconsin Union to prepare an unforgettable graduation weekend at Memorial Union and Union South commences. From live music to graduation gatherings, it all happens with the help of more 2,000 Union employees with a shared goal: make graduation weekend special for all who come to our buildings. In this story, we take you behind the scenes of graduation weekend at Union South and Memorial Union and introduce you to...
read moreUnion 101: The History of the Wisconsin Union’s Creation
Almost 114 years have passed since former University of Wisconsin-Madison President Charles Van Hise called for a student union to be created during his inaugural address to the campus community. Inspired by unions at Ivy League universities and Oxford, Van Hise originally envisioned the union as a place for students to congregate after class. “When the students are done with their work in the evening, the attractive union is at hand, where refreshments may be had, and a pleasant hour may be spent at games, with magazines, in a novel, or in...
read moreMy Tapingo Experience (Alternative Title: How I Skipped the Line at Strada)
By Abigail Rennicke Whether you are in the middle of being productive at work, in the zone studying, or just don’t want to wait in line, Tapingo is a new convenient app to get the food you want and save time. The online ordering system is available via app or web browser to easily acquire all of your favorite Union or dining hall food and drink options through pick up or delivery. I recently tried this new online ordering option and will give you a look into my experience. In my recent first experience with Tapingo, I was not...
read moreA Place for Fun and Focus amidst the Frenzy
By Jade Anthony and Shauna Breneman As we near the end of the semester, classes are almost over, and a break is right around the corner. But, between us and that break are looming finals and the increasing dread of spending your days surrounded by highlighters, books and stacks of papers. While you weather the storm of exams, the Wisconsin Union is here to be a place for you to find fun and focus amidst the frenzy of finals. Twice a year, around the time of finals, the Wisconsin Union team holds study breaks and conducts giveaways and plenty...
read moreFaces of the Union
The Wisconsin Union could not exist without the help of students, UW-Madison faculty, Union employees, members and the community—a collaboration we’re so proud to facilitate. While every visit to one of the Union locations allows members to interact with plenty of staff, there are many key players working behind the scenes to make the Union the “heart and soul” of the university that it is today. Two of these key members include Wisconsin Union Deputy Director Susan Dibbell and Wisconsin Union Association Trustee George Cutlip. Read Susan’s...
read moreUnique Jobs: From a Climbing Wall to Yoga on the Terrace
With everything from live concerts to kayak rentals, it’s probably no surprise to you that there are more than a few unique student employee positions at the Wisconsin Union. Two of our talented team members serving in this unique roles gave us an inside look into their not-so-typical days. Sarah Calvert, yoga instructor with Outdoor UW University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student Sarah Calvert is dedicated to finding time each day to be active. And, in her role as yoga instructor at Outdoor UW, she helps others do that, too. What began...
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