Blog
Storyteller Series: The Magic of the Terrace
Sitting atop the iconic sunburst chairs, taking in the lake view with visitors chatting and snapping pictures nearby, former Union Director Ted Crabb and current Union Director Mark Guthier discussed the Memorial Union Terrace and its role as a beloved campus and community gathering place. “This is just something special, you sense it in the people that are here and the activity going on,” Crabb commented. While there is no doubt that the Terrace holds a special place in the heart of almost every Madisonian, the Terrace is so much...
read moreA Backstage Pass to WUD Music
A lot of elements must come together to make a concert great: an exciting band, an energetic crowd, a cool venue, a good sound system. However, you might have never considered the work it takes behind the scenes to put on a successful show and make sure everything runs smoothly throughout the night. The student-run Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Music Committee, made up of about 40 members, books and plans acts that perform at der Rathskeller, the Sett, the Revelry Music and Arts Festival, and more. Get to know some of the leaders of WUD...
read moreTerrace After Dark Offers Something for Everyone
If variety is the spice of life, then this Terrace season is looking to be a flavorful summer of entertainment. Terrace After Dark, a summer-long program of free films and live music on the Terrace at night, is brought to you by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Music and Film Committees. Everyone is sure to get a taste of something they enjoy, with music genres ranging from jazz to bluegrass to rap. Films include both beloved classics and recent blockbusters. Check out the guide below to find an upcoming “can’t-miss” concert or film....
read moreStudent Leaders Plan and Promote Revelry Music Festival
Determined student leaders brought annual music festival Revelry to life at the Orpheum Saturday, April 30, despite budget cuts, bad weather and competition with nearby venues. Revelry attracted more than 600 students and community members. The Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee’s Revelry Music Festival is still in its formative years, having only begun in 2012. The mission of the festival is to bring an end-of-the-year music event to UW-Madison students and create a celebratory atmosphere as the semester comes to a close. Through...
read moreGraduating Seniors Celebrated their Success and the Future at Union South and Memorial Union
We invited graduating seniors to stop in for the graduation party of the year May 12-15. During the weekend celebration, Union South, Memorial Union and (drum roll, please) the Terrace offered music, photo opportunities, food, beverages and much more to graduating seniors and their families to commemorate their time at UW-Madison. The weekend celebration kicked off with graduating seniors returning nearly 700 iconic sunburst chairs to the Terrace in 32 minutes on May 12, accompanied by the UW Marching Band. Celebrations continued as tens of...
read moreLocal Talent and Child Star will Shine at Jazz Fest
There are certain moments in life when everything feels like it’s fallen into place. Sitting at the Memorial Union Terrace on a warm summer night, watching the sun set and listening to live music, it’s easy to feel like you are where you should be in life.The feeling will soon return with the reopening of the renovated Terrace, which sets the stage for the upcoming 2016 Isthmus Jazz Festival June 17-18 & 22. Wisconsin Union Theater Assistant Jazz Director and UW-Madison senior Joshua Agterberg booked the acts for the festival. He believes...
read moreWelcome Back to the Terrace
The beloved sunburst chairs were missing from Madisonians’ hearts since the end of last summer, but after much anticipation the Memorial Union Terrace reopened May 12 just in time for 2016 commencement. One of the most treasured spots on the UW-Madison campus, the Terrace closed before fall last year as part of the Memorial Union Reinvestment project (MUR). The remodeled Terrace now includes ramps for improved accessibility, expanded seating area, a new stage, infrastructure updates and another food stand. Excited students and community...
read moreStoryteller Series: A Student-Led Union
“This is what makes a university unique, when the students and the faculty can get together and discuss issues outside of the classroom. That is where true learning takes place,” former Union Director Ted Crabb said, reiterating Charles Van Hise’s inaugural address upon becoming President of the University of Wisconsin in 1904, about the importance of a Union for the students. Since the very idea of bringing a “commons” or “Union” area came about here, on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, it was understood that this space would be a...
read moreCelebrating Union South’s 5th Anniversary
Like many of us, Union South found itself a bit busier than usual on its birthday. On April 15, people flocked to the building throughout the day to help celebrate the exciting 5 year mark of the union’s revived existence on the UW-Madison campus. Attendees included students, faculty, staff and community members, as well as the building’s architect and the students and committees who had worked on the original plans for the building. In celebration of the dining services at Union South, all were invited to take part in nickel...
read moreHoofers Youth Program Teaches Sailing, Leadership and More
There’s a fleet of sailors taking Mendota by storm this summer, but they’re not your typical Hoofer Sailing member. They’re smaller, younger and part of the Wisconsin Union’s Hoofer Youth program. Together with their older Hoofer counterparts, kids utilize the program to spend their summers out on the open waters of Lake Mendota. The Hoofer Youth Program offers children (ages 10-18) of Wisconsin Union Members the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of sailing, kayaking and various water sports with the help of Hoofer instructors. From the...
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