New York's Central Park, New Orleans' French Quarter, Boston's Fenway Park, Madison's Memorial Union?
UW-Madison's Memorial Union joined a group of elite locations around the country selected as the best public places to hang out in an article in the January-February edition of the Utne Reader, a Minnesota-based bi-monthly publication.
In narrowing the thousands of possible sites down to 60 finalists, Utne editor Jay Walljasper said organizers at the journal were looking for public venues that bring communities closer.
\American life can be very isolating, people pursuing individual endeavors,"" Walljasper said. ""The purpose of this article was to celebrate in the places that bring the people together.""
Walljasper said the article aimed to widen the definition of what constitutes a popular public place.
""We also wanted to expand public places, and campuses tend to be good public places,"" Walljasper said. ""It seemed like the UW Union fit that bill perfectly.""
The Union's location on Lake Mendota also gives it individuality, Walljasper said.
""It's a beautiful lakeside setting where you want to linger,"" he said.
Both UW-Madison students and Madison community members seem to agree the Union is a great place for socializing, work and entertainment.
Madison community member Elynn Walter, who was visiting with friends at the Union Wednesday evening, agreed that it is a great place to come to meet acquaintances because of its central location and its accommodation to both work and conversation.
""It's not too loud so you can hear when you are having a conversation, and its large enough that if your meeting a lot of people, there is enough room,"" she said.
UW-Madison students spending time at the Union Wednesday expressed particular fondness for the Rathskeller, the cafeteria-like area of the Union, as a great place both to socialize and to work.
""I like hanging out at the Union because it has good food, it's a good place to study and open mic on Thursday nights is awesome,"" UW-Madison junior Bobbie Schult said. ""Its even a good place to hang out Fridays and Saturdays.""
UW freshman Andrea Hellenbrand also said that she likes studying at the Union because of its relaxing ambiance.
""Its nice that I can read because its not too loud, but if I need a break I can just look up and see what's going on,"" she said.
The Memorial Union organizes many of its activities through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, a student-run organization. Brittany Reed, WUD's performing-arts director, said that the Union is so unique because the programs, organized by students, can cater to student interests.
She added that the architecture in such rooms as the Rathskeller make the decor very appealing to everyone.
""In the Rathskeller with the German feel, the ambiance is just built into the walls,"" Reed said. ""It's a place that students just gravitate toward.\
