Union Council, January 22nd, 2008

Among this meeting's more notable items were the news on a coffee house for Memorial Union, a prolonged discussion and decision on building hours, approval of a new officer position, and an update on the building project.

By this coming summer, Memorial Union should have a Peet's coffee and tea franchise in the former STA Travel location. Peet's beat out other competitors, including Starbucks, largely on the bases of their commitment to quality and significantly greater operational flexibility. Their locations are predominantly on the East and West Coasts but they do have another franchise in Madison at the Sundance Cinemas in Hilldale Mall. The Union was hoping to have the coffee house open by spring break but complications first in the contract negotiations and now with navigating minor building improvements will delay the opening. Currently, plans call for entrances from the exterior near the main east doorway to the building, through the trophy room (by the bathrooms), and a new doorway where the game room currently sits (it will be removed). The facility should greatly expand on campus programming opportunities, particularly during nighttime hours.

Those nighttime hours will be extended during finals period at both Memorial and Union South beginning this semester, at least from Monday through Wednesday. This change resulted from calls for additional options for late night studying. A further call for extended hours on Thursday nights was rejected, primarily due to a current lack of programming and overall student use. Union staff does, however, have the ability to extend these hours without Union Council approval.

A proposal for an additional officer, a Vice President for Project Management, was also approved. As the title indicates, this officer will be in charge coordinating the Union South and Memorial Building projects. Specific responsibilities for the estimated 30 hours per week position will include chairing the Design Committee, coordinating special events, developing and promoting programming related to the building project, serving as the official representative and spokesperson for the building project, and engaging Union Directorate in the development of a long term strategic plan. This officer will also be the primary liaison between the building project and ASM, as well as the rest of the campus community.

Finally, we received an update on the building project. The partnered firms of Moody Nolan and Workshop Architects, selected back in December, will be holding their first meeting with the Design Committee this evening, January 28th, in the former STA Travel location. Despite the major delay imposed by the state's budget problems last fall, the project is still scheduled for completion, meaning the design concept will be done by May 5th of this year. TRANSLATION: this project will move incredibly fast over the next couple months. The official project kickoff will be February 25th in Memorial Union. Much more information will be forthcoming in the next couple weeks. I also sit on the Design Committee so please feel free to contact me (dcornelius@wisc.edu) with any questions.