Blog
ACUI President Mark Guthier talks 100th anniversary festivities and the college union idea
Earlier this month, we sat down with Mark Guthier, director of the Wisconsin Union and now president of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). Here’s what he had to say about his vision for the association in conjunction with the Wisconsin Union. By Francesca Bonifacio What does your becoming president of ACUI mean for the connections you hope to make between the association and the Wisconsin Union? Well certainly, I guess the most obvious connection would be that I’ll have a lot of contact with the 580 member schools...
read moreCelebrating the 10th annual Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Awards
By Lauren Ayala The visual arts have long been a rich tradition at the Wisconsin Union. Beginning with the first Union president and famed art-lover Porter Butts, the Union’s unwavering devotion to the arts continues today. By receiving honors at this year’s Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Awards (WVALAA) this past weekend, the galleries of both Memorial Union and Union South have proven to be significant contributors to the artistic achievements of the campus, community and state. The annual WVALAA, which take place...
read moreMay the 4th be with you: Revelry premieres as UW-Madison’s first music and arts festival
By Francesca Bonifacio Cue the foam machines. Bring out the jumbo chalk. Slap on a wristband. Now turn up the music. Welcome to Revelry. For the first time in UW-Madison’s extensive history, a group of dedicated students gave a bombastic edge to the meaning of an end-of-year celebration by establishing what could very well be the university’s newest longstanding tradition. Held on May 4th, Revelry was born when Union President Sarah Mathews joked about how British pop sensation, One Direction, should come perform on campus. Instead of...
read moreThrowback Thursday: Terrace summer band concert
Take a look back in time each week with Throwback Thursdays as we post photos and snapshots from the Union’s amazing history. Find out interesting facts and stories from some of the Union’s favorite people, places and things. We’re eager to hear your stories and memories from the Union as well, so share in the comments section below!
read moreThrowback Thursday: Village Fair in springtime
Take a look back in time each week with Throwback Thursdays as we post photos and snapshots from the Union’s amazing history. Find out interesting facts and stories from some of the Union’s favorite people, places and things. We’re eager to hear your stories and memories from the Union as well, so share in the comments section below!
read moreThrowback Thursday: Mornings with Mozart
Take a look back in time each week with Throwback Thursdays as we post photos and snapshots from the Union’s amazing history. Find out interesting facts and stories from some of the Union’s favorite people, places and things. We’re eager to hear your stories and memories from the Union as well, so share in the comments section below!
read moreHoofers gets ready to hoist the sails
By Francesca Bonifacio Tucked away on the second floor of Memorial Union, the Founders Room is bathed in sunlight as Led Zeppelin fills the open space through a pair of tiny speakers. The hum of a single sewing machine creates a steady backdrop of noise as two pairs of hands maintain the balance of the room. These four walls have been transformed into a space where Hoofers members have spent the better part of the day building sails in anticipation of the lake’s thawing out as the spring season nestles in. Shop Director Paul Birrittella...
read moreWisconsin Union Catering unveils new playful, interactive menu
By Francesca Bonifacio The Sett teemed with excitement and anticipation on Thursday, April 11, as guests of Downtown Madison, Inc.’s “New Faces, New Places” event were among the first to witness the unveiling of Wisconsin Union Catering’s latest menu items. Guests were treated to a quirky, engaging display of bite-sized delectables and playful drinks made to defy the norm and push the boundaries of creativity. “Everything we’re doing on this menu coincides with new ideas that we’ve learned, come up with, and created for the new menu, so it’s...
read moreDelving into design with Memorial Union Reinvestment
By Mishali Patel Spring has arrived, encouraging everyone to enjoy the beautiful lake, the delicious food, and colorful sunburst chairs, which will continue to decorate the Terrace as the Memorial Union Reinvestment continues. While many worry the construction will diminish the Memorial Union’s traditional iconic symbol, the Design Team, campus Facilities, Planning and Management, the State of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Historical Society and student representatives are all working together to make sure the Memorial Union stays true to its...
read moreLit Fest celebrates the literary community and giving back
By Brooke Appe As the Wisconsin Film Festival comes to an end and Revelry Music and Arts Festival is just around the corner, it’s hard to think that Madison could fit any more into this festival-packed season. Yet there is one more festival to mark on your calendars: the Wisconsin Union Directorate Publications Committee’s (PubCom) Lit Fest, which is a four-day celebration of the written word. The Lit Fest tradition began just two years ago, and since then has held a special place in promoting philanthropy, literature and...
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