The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 8, 1998 -3C
A PERFECT UNION
After nearly 100 years, the Michigan Union is still a home
By Susan T. Port
and Jennifer Yachnin
Daily Staff Reportrs
Although it began as an all-male club, the
Michigan Union has progressed into a home
for all students.
"It has always struck me as ironic that the
Union, started as a member-organization for
white men, has evolved into the center for
many student groups," said former Vice
President for University Relations Walter
Harrison.
For some, the Union does not live up to its
original purpose - the cohesion of the student
body.
_nSome students and alumni say that what was
once a thriving student center has tued into
another place to grab a burger and fries.
&adfdR od4&
A University student, Edward Parker, came
up with the idea to build a student union in the
fall of 1903 to unite the male students on cam-
pus that were divided into church and fraterni-
ty organizations.
In June of the same year, the Michigan
Union was officially established as a club for
male students, alumni, faculty and regents.
After years of fundraising, the home of
University faculty member Thomas Cooley,
located on South State Street, was purchased in
1907 to serve as a temporary clubhouse.
Eventually, the organization obtained two
properties bordering the Cooley house and
broke ground for the current Union building in
1916.
Due to inadequate funds, only the brick shell
structure of the building was completed before
construction was halted during World War .
During the war, the building was used to
house soldiers of the Student Army Training
Corps who were sent to Ann Arbor for training.
The Union officially opened for use to mem-
bers in the fall of 1919 - members being any
male student who voluntarily paid $2.50 in
membership dues each year.
History Prof. Sidney Fine, who attended the
University in the '40s, said he remembers the
Union as a popular place for student activity
and social interaction.
Fine said that in the pre-television era the
male students would crowd the billiards room
to find out the scores of football, baseball and
basketball games.
"The Union was sort of a man's club - a lot
of students around all of the time," Fine said.
Since the '30s, the building has undergone
multiple expansions, including the addition of
nearly 5,000 square feet of office space, the
University Club - a dining room of 90,000
square feet - the International Center and 80
additional guest rooms.
A flow of students after World War I
strained the physical capacities of the Union,
leading to a $2,900,000 expansion that brought
a cafeteria and several dining and music rooms.
Before 1956, the rules of the Union forbade
women from entering through the building's
front doors, the pool, the billiard's room, the
bowling alley or the tap room.
Women were restricted to the north entrance,
which provided access to lobbies, dining rooms
and the second-floor ballroom.
Before the men-only rules were lifted, for-
mer University President Harlan Hatcher's
wife, Anne, began using the front doors in
1951. She was probably the first woman to do
so.
"I started going through there before other
women did," Anne Hatcher said. "When we
first came to Ann Arbor we had to stay in the
Union apartments.
"We stayed there for several weeks and I, not
knowing anything about the front door, would
go back and forth between the Union and the
house we were redecorating," Hatcher said.
Opposition to Union rules barring women
from entering the building grew stronger in the
'50s.
Audrey Schwimmer, director of the
Michigan Union Board, said an elderly gentle-
man guarded the Union's front door to ensure
the rules were strictly
abided by until 1956.
Many women were
resentful of the
restrictions, said Fine,
who remembers taste-
less jokes made about
the situation while he
was a student.
"It goes back to a
different time," Fine
said, adding that the
guard was "very rig-
orous that women
could not go in.
Women were barred
- the Union was
pretty much a male
preserve."
Schwimmer said
because the Union
was exclusively for
male members, the
Michigan League was
built to accommodate
women in 1929.
Although the
League was con-
structed as a counter-
part to the Union, it
was not strictly for
women's use.
Not only were men
allowed to enter
through the front door
of the League, they_
were also accorded°
total use of all facili-
ties.
"Men used the
League a lot," Finez
said. "It was quite
popular."
A l um n i
Association board
member Tressa
Norton, a '58 alum-
nae, said women's
activities centered,
more around resi-
dence halls or Greek
life because women
were restricted to liv-
ing on campus.,
"I thought it was
kind of discriminato-
ry ... but there were
certain things women could not do or places
you could not go." Norton said. "Maybe you
didn't like it, but you accepted it.
"Most of the activities at the League at that
time centered around" the basement, she said.
"I used to cut class on Friday and play bridge
for 12 hours."
All areas of the Union were opened to
women by 1960. The progress made in the
Union echoed the social change that occurred
during this time period across the nation.
The Union "stands as a dual symbol,"
Harrison said. "On one hand, it is a symbol of
progress that we have been able to change soci-
etal norms ovei the years."
But the Union also serves as a reminder of
the oppression of women and minority students
faced, Harrison said.
For most students, the '90s Union is defined
as a quick trip to the ATM or a chance to grab
a hamburger at Wendy's in the Michigan
Underground..
Engineering Prof. Martin Sichel, who repre-
sents the faculty on the Michigan Union Board
of Representatives, said the Union's facilities
Morgan said students are not likely to use the
Union's resources unless they belong to an
organization located in the Union.
"It's definitely not a social center," she said.
Head of Education and Information Services
for University Library Barbara Mac Adam,
who came to the University in 1966, said the
Union was not a student activity center 30 years
ago.
"I spent almost no time there," said Mac
Adam, a '72 alumnae. "Coming here, my
impression of the Union was of a slightly
decrepit, seedy place
kind of a decrepit
mens hotel"
Over time student
use of the Union has
declined, as students
have found other
recreational activities
on campus, said Dick
Kennedy, former vice
president for
University relations.
"The Union has lost
its real focus," said
Kennedy, a '54 alum-
nus. "Alumni used
(the hotel) a lot for
football games. It was
a conference center for
meetings that didn't
involve students.
(Students) didn't real-
ly see it as serving
their needs."
V6w 9e
4
The interior of the
Union - once hous-
ing a swimming pool,
bowling alley and
hotel that have been
replaced by computer
labs, office space and
the MUG eatery -
has changed with the
addition of technology
and social outlets.
Schwimmer said
students and faculty
originally took greater
advantage of the
Union's facilities. The
Union housed a swim-
ming pool located
where the current
Union bookstore is
located.
The swimming pool
was eventually cov-
ered up to make room
for University offices,
including the Alumni
Association's head-
MATTMADILL/Daiy quarters.
Former Alumni Association Director Bob
Foreman said the association was involved with
the removal of the pool, although a drop in its
usage also contributed to the elimination.
"It was a matter of usage - there were much
nicer pools at the University," said Foreman.
Despite construction, many students and
alumni did not seem to notice the removal of
the swimming area, Foreman said.
"My office was right where the diving board
had been for the swimming pool," Foreman
said. "Men would come in with their towels to
come swimming in the middle of the Alumni
Association office."
Also popular in the mid-50s were
student/faculty water polo games in the Union
pool, Kennedy said.
"A bunch of people, including former
(University) Regent (Gene) Power, used to have
water polo matches in the Union pool that got
very energetic - they were in their birthday
suits," said Kennedy.
The Union once housed a hotel on its fourth
floor that was removed in the '70s. Fine said he
remembers staying the night at the Union dur-
ing the time it was a hotel.
"It was a very different place (than) it is
now," Fine said. "There was a big crowd there
at the time:'
Foreman said the former Union hotel attract-
ed not only students and faculty, but alumni.
"The Union has historically been a gathering
point on campus:' Foreman said. "For years it
had overnight lodging ..aalumni lookedfor-
ward to coming back and staying at the
University."
With the loss of the hotel, many alumni
became detached from the University, he said.
"For years, students paid as part of their stu-
dent fee a fee for the Union and at graduation
they became lifetime members - it was always
a badge of importance," Foreman said.
The '50s were a heyday for the Union, host-
ing dances nearly every weekend with live
orchestras or bands, Kennedy said.
"My wife and I used to go to the dances on
Saturday night," said Kennedy. "It was really
quite an event - it was a very in thing to do
because they were quite well attended."
Today, many organizations still hold dances
in the Union ballroom, Schwimmer said.
LSA sophomore student Johari Smith said
she attends functions sponsored by the Black
Greek Association held in the Union, but
restrictions barring non-University students
make the events unpopular.
"Other people from other schools can't
attend Union parties," Smith said. The restric-
tions "make the party dull."
Engineering senior Don Chamberlin said he
finds that the mood helps him study.
"It's the perfect atmosphere," Chamberlin said.
"It's not too quiet where you can hear a pin drop,
but it's not too loud where you can't study."
%e44a4 $(e (eadear
The Union was the first large-scale building
of its kind in the nation, and it served as a
model for other universities to emulate.
Today, Indiana University at Bloomington is
home to the largest student union, which was
inspired by the Michigan Union, said Winston
Shindell, executive director of the Indiana
Memorial Union.
A student came to the Indiana campus from
Ann Arbor and "wanted a similar organization
started at the university," Shindell said.
The Indiana union, built in 1932, is roughly
500,000 square feet and contains ATMs, guest
rooms, lounges, restaurants, a credit union,
bookstore, copy center, barber shop, bowling
alley, billiards tables, meeting rooms, a post
office, student offices, movie theater, computer
clusters and e-mail stations.
All who witnessed the 16 speech given by
John F. Kennedy about the Peace Corps at 2
a.m. on the steps of the Union cannot forget the
large crowd drawn to the spot.
"The Kennedy speech was terribly exciting
of course. It was in the dead of the night," Dick
Kennedy said. "He was an impressive guy and
I was thrilled."
Schwimmer said whatever role the Union
plays in students' daily lives, it has a large
impact on their memories of the University.
"A large number of students, faculty and
alumni stroll through the Union reminiscing
about their days at the Union," Schwimmer
said.
have taken on many faces throughout their his-
tory - from an athletic center to a fast food
mecca.
"I think the Union has responded to the
needs of the University community," Sichel
said. "The Union is used by all kinds of
University organizations."
Winter '98 Michigan Student Assembly
Treasurer Karie Morgan said that in the past the
Union was more of a social outlet for students.
The University may occupy the same physical
location, but the University is a different place
than it once was, Morgan said.
"The Union is becoming more of a student
resource," said Morgan, an SNRE senior. "For
most, the Union means grabbing food on cam-
pus. Maybe also a place to buy books."
1W
4
Community service grows by leaps and
bounds on Michigan's central campus
By Rachel Edelman munity to people who have a height- Many human-service organizations
Daily Staff Reporter ened sense of their place in the world," depend on the energy and time com- " ye
10Whether it is volunteering at a said Dave Warehouse, co-director of mitment of dedicated -and concerned m o e o n i e
dmestic violence shelter, helping to Project SERVE, students.
build homes in poor neighborhoods, or Waterhouse said that although many Boyce said that Ozone House, a shel- o w w
working on a teen crisis hotline, com- students want to contribute to the com- ter for runaway teenagers, relies heavi-
amnity service allows students the munity and work towards social justice, ly on their 40-50 volunteers. Volunteers
opportunity to actively take part in others are motivated by the enticement are responsible for tutoring teenagers
shaping the Ann Arbor community. of an enhanced resume. in trouble, helping with outreach pro-
"It's very rewarding, emotionally About 400 students participate in jects, the crisis hotline and fundraising.
and spiritually, to be able to help peo- Alternative Spring Break every year, , "Our crisis hotline is completely run - LSA Senior Debbie Franckle
ple," said Karyn Boyce, the training one of Project SERVE's many pro- by volunteers," Boyce said. "It expands SAPAC Publicity Co-coordinator
nd volunteer coordinator of Ozone
Ouse.
A number of service-oriented orga-
nizations exist on campus that work to
serve the University community.
Project SERVE is the University's
largest service organization, dedicated
to providing a wide range of service-
oriented programming. About 5,000
students take part in Project SERVE's
large variety of services programs.
Project SERVE's services range
from referring students to community
rvice agencies, and programming
many service events on campus. Events
include one-day service programs, like
"Community Plunge," and "Acting on
the Dream," to longer programs like
Alternative Spring Break and SERVE
Week, a week devoted to community
service.
- "The motivation varies from people
who want to be involved in the com-
grams. Alternative Spring Break is a
week-long service project during
spring break in which students work in
various sites across the country on
issues like hunger, poverty and
women's and refugee issues.
"What I'm aiming to do in life, my
career aims and my attitudes have
changed," said Sanjay Patel, a recent
graduate of the University. Patel was
the co-education and training coordina-
tor of Alternative Spring Break, and
has been involved in Project SERVE
for three years.
Patel said that Alternative Spring
Break was an "eye-opening" experi-
ence for him.
"I wanted to give more to people as
it became more of a part of my life,"
Patel said.
Opportunities abound for the student
who wants to volunteer on their own at
an organization in the Ann Arbor area.
our ability to reach out to teens in trou-
ble."
Many University offices, such as'the
Sexual Assault Prevention and
Awareness Center, the Office of
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Affairs also
offer opportunities for students to get
involved in the community.
SAPAC offers a variety of volunteer
opportunities for students who want to
be a part of the struggle against vio-
lence against women.
"I've learned a lot about the issues of
violence against women," said LSA
senior Debbie Franckle, the SAPAC
Campus Publicity and Networking co-
coordinator.
Franckle said that she has also
gained many valuable inter-personal
skills through volunteering.
"I've gained a lot more of an idea of
how to work more effectively as a
team, and how to take action," Franckle
said. "You learn a lot about how to
organize events, and you get to know a
lot of people.
"Anytime you volunteer, you
become a more caring individual.
Once you learn about something, you
start to really care about it," Franckle
said.
Students can also get involved in
several organizations that offer volun-
teer options, including Circle K and
Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fra-
ternity.
Students can also volunteer through
various student groups, as well as do
'perform community service for acade-
mic credit. Project Community,
Sociology 389 and Project Outreach,
Psychology 211 allow students to vol-
unteer at various local agencies as part
of the class.
COURTESY OFPROJECT SERVE
University students participate in a Project SERVE activity by picking fruit at an
organic farm to donate to those in need of food.
I I I I
f
t