Blog
Union artwork stirs passions for student employee
By Emily Connor From paint brush to Peet’s coffee shop, the journey each piece of Wisconsin Union artwork takes is truly unique. And student employee Katie Reshel knows this is true. Over the last few years, the honors art history and anthropology major has helped hang hundreds of the Wisconsin Union’s 1,200 pieces of art. But Katie’s time hanging each piece has helped create her own unique Union experience. Over the past three years, Katie has worked in a variety of departments at the Union. Katie began her relationship...
read moreSummer nights are still hot on the Memorial Union Terrace
For some, summer may be ending as August begins. But the Memorial Union Terrace plans to be open until temperatures drop and the first snowflake falls, giving members plenty of time to enjoy the Lake Mendota scenery. Several unsuspecting Union members and UW Madison students gave their opinions on the best Babcock ice cream flavor, their favorite Terrace activity and much more. Even more members answered on our Facebook page and Twitter, so be sure to read about everyone’s favorite summer activities and post some of your own! Make sure...
read moreUpdate from the vice commodore of Hoofer sailing
By Michelle Czarnecki, vice commodore of hoofer sailing Since 1939, the Hoofer Sailing Club has been making waves on Lake Mendota. The flock of large white sails has become an integral part to the Memorial Union Terrace scenery. This August, the club has been busy enjoying the summer weather and planning for the upcoming year. With an average of 1,200 to 1,300 members a year, the Sailing Club is by far the largest club in Hoofers, largely due to its ideal location on the shores of Lake Mendota. This summer, the club has been capitalizing on...
read moreIn the Spotlight: the Union’s very own yoga master
By Emily Connor It was only a few minutes into our coffee meeting to talk about Lisa Lawrence’s yoga practice when a young woman sitting nearby took notice. She had only heard a few of Lisa’s opinions before feeling the need to come and meet the eclectic and vivacious woman behind the words. “I don’t teach a popular or sexy yoga. I teach an ancient yoga,” explained Lisa, a longtime Mini Courses yoga instructor and favorite familiar Union face. “It’s the real thing.” Lisa specializes in Kundalini...
read moreGuest post: Steven Skolaski on Rennie’s grand opening
By Steven F. Skolaski Steven F. Skolaski serves as a member of the board of directors for the UW Foundation and is the president of the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc. Steven is a UW Madison alumn of the class of 1971 and is a former employee of the original Rennebohm Drug Store. It has been nearly a month since the grand opening of Rennie’s Dairy Bar in the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery building located on the corner of University and Randall, which also happens to be the site of the former Rennebohm Drug Store #1. At the grand...
read moreSweet Honey in the Rock’s music is more than just a melody
By Erin Bannen and Emily Connor Few bands can master mixing beautiful melodies with social commentary and political rhetoric. However, Sweet Honey in the Rock has been masterfully producing powerful and persuasive vocals for over 35 years. This all female, African American a cappella group will bring its unique sound, thoughts and stories to the Wisconsin Union Theater stage to entertain Madison audiences this October. When it comes to Sweet Honey in the Rock, no specific category or genre can define this unique musical experience. The group...
read moreYoutube dancing sensation films at Terrace
By Emily Connor On July 17th, Union members got a chance at Youtube stardom when dancing Internet sensation Matt Harding came to the Memorial Union Terrace to film a scene for his next “Where the Hell is Matt?” video. Matt’s first dancing video became a huge hit in 2005 after he created a video of himself dancing badly around Asia. What started as just a silly way to document his travels became an Internet phenomenon and even captured the attention of major sponsors, like Stride Gum. Matt was then able to film more videos of...
read moreMemorial Union Reinvestment design plans begin for next year
By Emily Connor In 1928, as the oak doors first opened and students and community members stepped onto the marble floors, not one could imagine the amount of history, heart and soul that the Memorial Union would come to hold. For over eighty years, thousands have come and gone, reading at the Terrace, enjoying a beer at the Stiftskeller and studying in the hallowed hallways. However, as time progressed, the building showed its need for renovation, and the Memorial Union Reinvestment project emerged to ensure that the heart and soul of campus...
read moreThe Travel Adventure series: A piece of Madison history
By Erin Bannen and Emily Connor In a global technological society where Skyping a friend in Italy and watching a Youtube video of the Libyan protests are commonplace, it might seem that the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Travel Adventure Series is obsolete. These days, learning about a different culture may be only one click away on the Internet. The Travel Adventure Series has given audiences multicultural experiences for over 50 years. For only a moderate ticket price, guests get a chance to experience a captivating film featuring another...
read moreIn the spotlight: a musical double life
Brooke Jackson needs a personal assistant as much as anyone ever has. On what is supposed to be a quiet summer morning, she rushes to her interview straight from another meeting, bringing with her the undeniable energy that usually accompanies her presence, and Marcel, the miniature Chihuahua who usually does not. Today is not exactly a normal day for Jackson. Marcel has just been to the vet, and therefore gets to spend the day with his owner. Jackson is leaving the next day for a vacation in New York, and she has a new graduate student...
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