Blog
Union bids farewell to lifelong supporter
Hans Hopf, Memorial Union Building Association associate trustee, passed away on September 27, 2010. When Hopf joined Hoofers on their first ski trip in 1941, he not only became passionate about skiing but Hoofers as well. The trip was the beginning of a lifelong relationship that inspired him to become an avid supporter of the Union and create the Hoofers’ Dr. Harold C. Bradley Leadership Award in 2006. Emeritus director, Ted Crabb, remembers Hopf as a very strong and active person. “Hans had been heavily involved in the ski club and in...
read moreHoofers welcomes new director
As a young girl, Linda Bentz always wanted a horse. Born and raised in Chicago, she didn’t get her wish until her twenties. For the past five years, Linda has worked as an advisor to Hoofers and now as their new director, Linda gets to continue working daily with students who share her love for outdoor activities. Linda has a long history and passion for working with students. She received a masters in education with a specialty in counseling from Western Illinois University, and worked as a school counselor “in a former life,” as she...
read moreFootball is a hit on Broadway
UW-Madison alumni and friends got a sneak peak at the living embodiment of one of Wisconsin’s greatest traditions last October. Over 60 avid Green Bay Packers fans gathered at the Square Theater in New York for a special showing of Lombardi, a new Broadway play about former Packers head coach Vince Lombardi. Before seeing the play, guests heard from former Badger athletic director Pat Richter and local author David Maraniss in an exclusive meet and greet cocktail reception. Maraniss, Memorial Union Building Association associate trustee and...
read moreEco hotel rooms almost finished at new Union South
After 16 years in the hospitality business, Jessica Johnson knows how to open a new hotel. As the inaugural manager of the Wisconsin Union Hotel in the new Union South, she’s looking forward to the challenge of opening this upcoming April 15th. “I’m excited to be part of this process,” said Johnson, who was fresh off working on the debut of new 100-room Hotel Indigo in Rahway, NJ. Hotel Indigo, owned by Intercontinental, is a chain of boutique hotels, the same niche the new Union hotel will fill locally. “Here at the Wisconsin Union we’ll...
read moreHahn & Lisitsa performance promises to be “electrifying”
Violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Valentina Lisitsa will grace the Union Theater February 17th with a special evening of fantastic classical music spanning across several periods. Hilary Hahn garnered national attention with her violin at the very young age of 12, when she debuted with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1991. She studied at some of the most prestigious music schools including the Peabody Institute of Music and obtained her bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Musicat the age of 19, when most people start college....
read moreBehind the scenes of “East African Safari”
This March 21-22, the Wisconsin Union Theater has the honor of premiering Rick Ray’s film East African Safari as part of the Union’s Travel Adventure Film Series. We interviewed Ray to get background information on him and the film. Ray says that his film career started in fifth grade, when his teacher brought an 8mm camera to class and gave students permission to make films in place of hand-written assignments. After this experience, Ray said, “I was hooked.” He went on to create numerous films, perhaps the most notable of which is the...
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