Every university has a student center or student union. Arizona State University has the Student…read moreCenter @ The Post Office and the University Center at the Downtown Campus, the Student Union at the Polytechnic Campus, the University Center Building at the West Valley Campus, and the Memorial Union and Student Pavilion at the Tempe Campus. The Memorial Union opened in 1956 and has since served as the central hub of student life on the Tempe Campus.
The Memorial Union has its own core values including creating community, celebrating diversity, promoting and achieving excellence, embracing history and traditions, and fostering human development. There is a huge team of professional and student staff that run the Memorial Union (as well as the other unions and centers across the other campuses). ASU chose the name "Memorial Union" to serve as a living memorial for those who have courageously served our country in the military. There is a lot of history in the building. The Scoular Lounge (on the main level) is named after the Memorial Union's first director Cecelia Scoular. There are also more than 160 pieces of art making up the Memorial Union permanent art collection. These art pieces can be found along the walls of rooms and hallways throughout the building on all of the floors.
There are 4 1/2 floors to the Memorial Union. On the lower level are a Digital Creative Studio, Wellness/Lactation Rooms, an Interfaith Reflection Room, lounges, meeting rooms, Burger King, Subway, Shake Smart, Sun Devil Card Services, Pat Tillman Veterans Center, Union Stage, and Sparky's Den with billiards and table tennis (but no longer bowling). On the main level are the Desert Financial Credit Union, the Pitchforks Dining Hall, Changemaker Central, the Information Desk, part of the Student Connection and Community office, the Safety Escort Service, the P.O.D. Market, the Sun Devil Hospitality Meal Plan Office, the Scoular Lounge, Starbucks, Einstein's, Chick-fil-a, Qdoba, Pei Wei, Choolaah Indian BBQ, Rosie's Bakery, Gigi's, and Bento. There is a mezzanine level with additional Student Connection and Community offices. On the second level are the Engrained dining room, Starlight Terrace, another Digital Creative Studio, many meeting rooms, the Arizona and Ventana Ballrooms, and a catering kitchen. On the third level are the New Student Orientation and ASU Family offices, the Event and Meeting Services and Sun Devil Hospitality Catering offices, and the Maroon and Gold program and Access ASU offices.
I remember being at the Mariposa Cafe on November 1, 2007 for lunch when a fire broke out there leading to a closure of the Memorial Union for several months. The Memorial Union reopened its lower two floors in January 2008 with the rest of the building reopened in May 2008. I have spent many days, nights, and weekends in the Memorial Union for conferences, banquets, meetings, trainings, lunches, errands. study time, work time, shopping, and connecting with colleagues in offices on all floors. I was even there for a meeting today in the Alumni Lounge on the second floor of the building.
I certainly encourage anyone visiting ASU to stop by the Memorial Union to check it out and be a part of history!