New Digital Kiosk Commemorates Soldiers in Gold Star Honor Roll
With less than a month until Veterans Day, the Wisconsin Union is looking ahead to commemorate our fallen soldiers. Together with our partner, the UW-Madison classes of 1963 and 1967, we will unveil a new digital kiosk telling soldiers stories on Nov. 11 on the second floor of Memorial Union in the main hall. This new memorial will include soldiers’ names ranging from the Civil War to modern day conflicts. Memorial Union was named as...
Gekas Lounge Murals Display Stories of Diverse Historical Figures
As current Badgers and alumni celebrate the start of a new year, they can also celebrate the new and renovated Gekas Lounge. Formerly known as the Trophy Room in Memorial Union, the space was renamed after a generous donation from alumnus Ted Gekas. The room located just behind der Rathskeller is known for its large, colorful murals created in the mid-1990s as a lasting representation of students of color at UW-Madison. The murals...
Home is Memories
The beloved Memorial Union Terrace is back. Students, staff and faculty as well as our esteemed Wisconsin Union members and guests have visited this cherished space since 1929. In its early years, the Terrace hosted a variety of gatherings such as Venetian night, Cap Night and University Sings. At one point, the Terrace was even flooded by the Wisconsin Hoofers to create an ice skating rink! Porter Butts, the first Wisconsin Union...
Home is Stories
By Kelsey Pulera We at the Wisconsin Union have the honor of carrying on traditions that our predecessors established over the past century and creating new traditions that make all who visit feel at home in their campus living room. We are the caretakers of these places that are home to countless stories and memories. This year, we highlighted the moments that make our Union home with a new oral history project called the Storyteller...
November Grace Period: Now and Then
As the temperature drops, the sun sets earlier and students finish up yet another round of midterms, everyone can start to enjoy autumn in Madison even more. Of course it’s important to remember this grace period before Thanksgiving has been enjoyed for generations of fellow Badgers. Check out the following collection of vintage photos from around campus. Is it any different than how you spent your fall in Madison? Photos courtesy of...
Gold Star Honor Roll to Remember UW-Madison’s Fallen Soldiers
Have you ever wondered how Memorial Union got its name? A little-known fact is that the building was dedicated as a memorial to UW-Madison’s Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I service members. The Gold Star Honor Roll Program will honor these fallen soldiers and tell their stories. The symbolism of the “gold star” dates back to World War I. A family that had a family member in the service displayed a card with a blue star...