Union to expand hours, programs
The Wisconsin Union will expand its academic year operating hours to provide additional programming, late-night activities and gathering space for students and members of the campus community.
Beginning this fall, both Memorial Union and Union South will remain open one hour later, until 12 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Summer hours will remain the same. (See below for complete hours.)
The change came about at the request of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the student programming board of the Wisconsin Union, which asked for additional hours to support programming between 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
“Memorial Union and Union South will be open longer in response to students’ requests — open longer for music, dances, games room activities, Craftshop projects, and just general gathering space and use,” says Mark Guthier, Wisconsin Union director.
The driving factor behind the change is twofold, says Guthier: The Union wants to provide a safe environment as an alternative to house parties and an all-ages venue on campus where students can meet.
Over the past year, the Union has made numerous exceptions to its standard building hours to accommodate popular late-night programs such as dance parties and midnight movie screenings, says Andrew Wallmeyer, outgoing student president of the Wisconsin Union Directorate.
“We see the extension of building hours as the next natural step, and one that will help us take our late-night programming even further,” he says.
Accordingly, Union facilities that serve alcohol – the Rathskeller, Memorial Union Games Room and Union South Games Room — will also expand their hours to allow students of legal age to drink responsibly.
“We are working to provide an environment where students of all ages can meet, eat and enjoy a variety of activities, and where students who are of age can drink in a safe environment,” adds Guthier. “Beverage service is only one of many services we provide.”
UW–Madison Chancellor John Wiley says both he and RWJ Project leaders are enthusiastic about an expansion that would give students more late night alternatives to high-risk drinking. In past discussions with the city and tavern owners, the Union’s early closing hour had been identified as an area of concern.
“Contrary to what has been recently reported, this decision is based on expanding programming options, not alcohol sales,” he says. “However, we will work to ensure that our beverage service remains safe and responsible.”
The Wisconsin Union, which has served beer since 1933, is one of nearly 100 student centers nationwide to do so. Union policies are in place to prevent high risk drinking at its facilities, including:
- To purchase alcohol at the Union, customers must be of legal age and present a membership card or university ID.
- Union venues do not serve hard liquor, shots or offer drink specials.
- The Union mandates alcohol server training for all bartenders or employees that serve beer.
- Thirty-five professional staff members have attended the Madison Area Technical College course on bartending.
- In the Union’s restaurant division, five supervisory staff members are licensed bartenders.
- A supervisor or professional staff member is on duty at all times that alcohol is being served.
New hours for Memorial Union and Union South during the 2002-2003 academic year will be:
- Sundays: 8 a.m.-midnight (currently 8 a.m.-11 p.m.)
- Mondays-Wednesdays, 7 a.m.-midnight (currently 7 a.m.-11 p.m.)
- Thursdays-Fridays: 7 a.m.-2 a.m. (currently 7 a.m.-1 a.m.)
- Saturdays: 8 am – 2 a.m. (currently 8 a.m.-1 a.m.)
The Wisconsin Union operates Memorial Union and Union South, where faculty, staff and students can eat, meet, relax, socialize, and enjoy artwork, films, guest lecturers and live performances. The Wisconsin Union is a membership organization with more than 75,000 annual and lifetime members in addition to all enrolled students, faculty and staff.