The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 4, 1980-Page 7-DX Union renovations planned By JOYCE FRIEDEN While the Michigan Union has always been the "center" of campus since its construction in 1917, it" has experienced varying degrees of student activity., In response to recent demands to restore the Union as a bonafide student center, the University has targeted the upcoming school year for a multi-million dollar renovation project. When the dust settles later this spring, the Union may once again becdme the social nucleus of campus. At present, the Union houses a wide range of facilities for students and faculty. The ground floor holds music practice rooms, lockers, a barbershop, a ride board, snack bar, a copying center, and the University Cellar, the student-run bookstore. ON THE FIRST FLOOR there is a bank card machine, a building directory, a gift shop, the ticket office, the University Club (a restaurant in which all U-M students, faculty and staff are members), a lounge, administrative offices; and an art gallery, which may be closed in August to make room for a new student lounge. The second floor of the Union features a billiards room, assembly halls, and offices for various student organizations. The third and fourth floors of the Union primarily house offices, both for students an- University organizations. Among these groups are the Office of Student Services, the Ann Arbor Tenant's Union, the University Counseling Service, and Student Legal Services. ALSO LOCATED ON the third floor is the Univer- sity Activities Center (UAC). Members conduct all the activities in the Union, from scheduling use of meeting rooms to sponsoring, Michigras, an all night party held annually at the Union. The center, moreover, provides cider and doughnuts on the steps of the Union before football games, mini-courses in bartending, ballroom dancing, and other activities. According to Suzanne Young, Interim Director of the Michigan Union, the University campus has ob- served changes in students' attitudes toward their Union. "The Michigan Union used to be *the hub of campus activity-the presidency of the Union was the most prestigious job on campus from the 20's to the 50's," Young said. In the 50's, she explained, the University combined the programming departments of the Michigan League and the Union into UAC. This action, coupled with formation of diversified student groups and increased operating costs, contributed to the "slide" of the Union's campus dominance in the 60's, Young said. , For many years the Union also housed a hotel, which detracted from its function as a student union, according to Assistant Vice-President for Student Services Tom Easthope. "The decorum required for a Student Union is different from that required for a hotel. We've got to change that image," said Easthope. Last year, the Union hotel was closed and the extra rooms were made available to graduate students. UNION OFFICIALS are implementing many changes to "try to give the Union back to the studen- ts," said Easthope. "Next year's freshmen will be able to see the revitalization of the Michigan Union from beginning to end." According to Young, the University has allocated $4.8 million for the Union improvements, and are paid in part by mandatory student fees. Many of these changes will get underway in the fall, she said. "First and foremost, we want to get a student food service in the building. A Union's job is to be the 'living room of the campus,' and we want students to be able to come in and have a cup of coffee in the middle of the day." Other possible changes include-more lounge space, an expanded bookstore, a "Michigan Union store" selling candy and magazines, and a "market- place" housing different kinds of food shops, such as an ice cream parlor, a health food store, and a fast food store. Renovations are expected to be finished sometime next spring. "If you see a lot of dust and boarded up areas in the Union, just be patient," Young advised. The Michigan Union