New student union in search of innovative building name

We go through our lives naming things. Teddy the stuffed bear, Fido the dog. We name our research papers, our science projects and eventually, our kids. But this spring, one lucky Badger will name a building.

The new student union is scheduled for completion in 2011, and it needs a name.

So the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) and the Wisconsin Union are holding a contest for students, faculty and staff to submit names to namethatunion@gmail.com by today, Friday, March 12.

If a student submits the winning name they’ll win a lifetime Union membership.

With the legendary creativity of the UW–Madison community, there’s no doubt the selection committee will receive many innovative ideas. But how will they decide? What makes for a good university building name anyway?

“Some of the best names I’ve seen have been either those of people or of some idea that the university holds as a high standard,” says ASM chair Tyler Junger.

You also have to consider what it is you’re naming. You’re not going to name a pit bull Fluffy, or a kitten “The Situation.”

“I think you have to think of two things,” says Arthur Hove, a retired UW–Madison administrator and author of a pictorial history of the university. “One is functional. What is this building all about in terms of what’s inside? And then, if it’s a person’s name, is the name going to be somebody who merits the honor that come with that?”

So, the search is on. Should the campus name it after a historic figure in UW–Madison history? Someone with ties to the Memorial Union? Or, maybe a name tied to place, purpose or theme?

Some students are hoping for the new union to be named after someone they can relate to.

“I do like the idea of naming it after somebody who’s really influential to the university, maybe somebody who’s a little more contemporary,” says UW–Madison student and Union employee Melissa Mroczkowski.

While hanging out in the Memorial Union with her friends, UW–Madison student Stephanie Bakula said Madison’s beloved band director would make a great namesake.

“Mike Leckrone comes to mind because he’s really popular on campus and he’s done a lot for a lot of the students,” she says.

There are campus buildings that aren’t named after historic figures, including the old Union South, which was named for its location in the southern part of campus.

Memorial Union, named for the UW–Madison students and alum who lost their lives in World War I, is one of several Memorial Unions in universities around the country.

Academic archivist Bernard Schermetzler believes the number of unions named for fallen soldiers can be attributed to the economic growth of the roaring ‘20s, when many of these unions were built.

“There was a lot of money floating around in the boom period of the ‘20s, so there was a building boom after the war,” he says. “When the Wisconsin Union was built, for example, I think it’s a tiny element that when it was built after the war the consciousness was there to honor these people.”

The Memorial Library followed suit when it was named for World War II victims in 1953.

“Ideally I think it’s nice to either have it named after its purpose or kind of an iconic name in some way,” says Memorial Union employee and UW–Madison student Gabe Stanek. “After those buildings that are named after people are around long enough, they turn more into the association with the building itself and less with the person.”

UW-Madison students Sean Becker and Rebecca Rosenberg, who were studying in the Memorial Union, hope the building’s name is short and simple.

“Things on our campus are abbreviated,” Rosenberg says. “Abbreviations should be considered because students are going to do it anyway.”

Becker suggests “South Campus Union.” He likes the ring of “I’m going to SCU.”

Others wanted to name the new union after an inspirational concept.

“Maybe it should be something for the future,” says 2008 UW–Madison alumna Erran Daniels. “The Memorial Union is in memory of the past.”

She suggested “Prosperity Union” or “Pioneer Union,” and added that each room could be named after a historic figure “who’s done something to pave the way for the future.”

Regardless of whether the winning name is a person, place or thing, students should take advantage of the opportunity to put in their two cents and submit a name.

“This is your chance to leave a lasting impression on the university simply by having a good idea,” Junger says. “Let’s leave a name that we can all be proud of, since we’re investing so heavily in the building.”