A move to establish a referendum to renovate Memorial Union and rebuild Union South seems to have cemented student support, Wisconsin Union student representatives said Monday.
Student input on union construction has increased since past efforts to pass a referendum to overhaul the unions failed, according to UW-Madison senior Jenna Reidi, vice president of internal relations for the Wisconsin Union Directorate.
'This year it's been all student-led, student run,' Reidi said. 'It's been a lot more student based, so that's why we're so much more comfortable with doing this.'
In preparation for the rebuilding of Union South, WUD has drawn up plans to install caf??s in the Engineering and Microbial Sciences buildings to ensure engineering students have a place to eat while Union South is down.
'We already have the blueprints for what's going into Engineering for those two years,' said UW-Madison junior Shayna Hetzel, WUD vice president of external relations. 'That food outlet also will exist after the south campus union will be built,' she said.
Due to increased student input, the focus of union projects has changed, eliminating certain features in favor of more practical improvements, according to WUD President and UW-Madison senior Janell Wise.
'The idea of a ballroom at Memorial'that's not in our thinking anymore,' Wise said. 'It's much more about accessibility, life safety, improving the working conditions in the kitchens and break rooms. The building still has a lot of its original electrical wiring, original plumbing.'
In addition, WUD President Janell Wise said the signature campaign to put the union referendum on the ASM ballot this semester is garnering support.
'We've been hearing a lot of feedback from students,' Wise said. 'We've got a lot of student organizations interested in getting involved.'
If passed, the referendum would mandate a $96 increase in student segregated fees per semester, a flat rate that would continue for up to 30 years.
These fees foot the greater part of the $153 million bill to renovate and rebuild the unions. Reidi said WUD is seeking $30 to $40 million in private donations and state and federal funds to supplement the budget.
