Former WUD director relives ’90s dance moves & memories
By Emily Connor
Long before the Marquee Theater, the Sett’s HD television, and computer-lined entryways, the old Union South building and a now-forgotten Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) subcommittee hosted a favorite student event. Music blasted and fog machines piped smoke into the old Union South’s dark and dingy hallways. But the students didn’t care where they were–they were dancing like it was 1989.
A subcommittee of the WUD activities and games committee hostedDiversions, the original dance club at Union South. UW Madison alumna and WUD member Jennifer Zahn Norris remembers all of the fond memories and fun times she had dancing with friends. Jen eventually became Union South entertainment director her senior year and worked with the WUD Activities and Entertainment committee to plan many dances. Back in the 90s when it was pre-computers and pre-big screen TVs, it was just friends, loud music, big hair and even bigger dance moves that made each Union South dance club a special event.
“I remember spending lots of time at Diversions, setting up the club, hanging out with the DJs Amos and Tony and watching our advisor Jeff go industrial-crazy dance-marching to the music,” said Jen. “I remember the smoke machines churning, the disco ball beams cutting through the fog, and Jeff marching around the floor, alternately mouthing lyrics, slamming into a push-up, picking up and starting the stomp marching all over again.”
Jen’s simple words and stories bring to life some of her fondest memories of the Diversions dance club and the purpose of student programming. “There was something so freeing about being able to completely express yourself through dance – whatever “dance” meant to you,” said Jen. “I love those memories, those times and all of that creativity.”
After Jen graduated in 1991, she left the Wisconsin Union, but returned as a program advisor to WUD Music, Entertainment, Film and summer programs from 1996 to 2002. But Jen still recalls that the most leadership experience she gained was working as a student for WUD programming.
Photo above: Jen Zahn Norris (pictured right) with fellow members at a WUD banquet.
“I got a lot of practical experience during my time with WUD, and some lessons I’m still unwrapping today, meaning I can peel back their origins to my WUD life,” said Jen. Balancing budgets, coordinating events, marketing, and managing volunteers are all skills Jen developed while working for WUD. She said these were crucial when moving forward to her professional life. Managing projects remains an important part of her current career, and she thanks WUD for preparing her as an undergraduate.
“My work with WUD as a student was really the ‘degree’ that I earned in school,” said Jen. “Though my sheepskin says ‘BA-Journalism,’ my real degree was earned in student activities and leadership development.”
Looking back over 20 years later, Jen feels that the WUD program has certainly shifted. Although she said the content seems similar, she imagines that social media and computers have truly professionalized the program since her tenure. She even remembers when the Union South WUD office received its first computer, technology that seems standard to WUD students today.
Jen said she gained many valuable skills from the student leadership program. She said the combination of trust, creativity, and resources created a world of possibilities for her to learn from. “The biggest lesson you’re exposed to in WUD is, if you can dream it, you can do it,” said Jen. “The program bridges the gap between childhood and adulthood by providing a forum to develop confidence and practical skills in a fun, real-life setting.”
But Jen was quick to point out that everything she learned couldn’t compare to the friends she made in the program. “Above all, the people make it worthwhile, whether they were my advisors, fellow Union staff, other student leaders on campus, committee members or program attendees. Without the people, there would be no WUD.”
Photo above: Jen (pictured front row center) with fellow WUD directors and members during her tenure in the 1990s.
This November, Jen will get a chance to reunite with those old members and friends, while passing on her stories and advice to current students at the WUD Reunion. From Nov. 4 to Nov. 5, old WUD directors, coordinators and members with reunite for a weekend long series of events to catch-up and also find out what’s new.
And Jen still hopes to share some 90s dance moves and relive fond memories at the reunion, even if it has to be without the fog machines and disco lights.
WUD Reunion attendees will be creating a Wisconsin Union time capsule! What do you think should go in…some 90s hair scrunchies, Union South’s first computer? Post your ideas on the WUD Reunion Facebookpage and follow Wisconsin Union on Twitter for instant updates.
For more information about the WUD Reunion, visit the Reunion page on the Wisconsin Union website.
