As members of the Wisconsin Union finalize design and budget plans for the new Union South project, the full scale of the project is becoming increasingly apparent. While using 40 percent of the university's overall Master Plan budget, the new Union South design and plan has grandiose features, including a complete renovation of Orchard Street and an area to accommodate a future hypothetical train platform.
Student segregated fees will account for up to 58 percent of the total cost of the project, according to the Wisconsin Union Initiative web site. In the current climate of budget cuts and penny pinching, it would be prudent for those involved in the Union South redesign to save students money by scaling down some of the frivolities of the design. More importantly, students should not have to assume any of the financial burden that the Orchard Street renovation assumes.
The Orchard Street area adjacent to Dayton Street would house a farmer's market available to the public. While students would benefit from having these vendors available, they should not have to pay for it. The original student ballot for the Union Initiative did not suggest at all having outdoor areas like those described on Orchard Street. The planners should either bind themselves to what the students voted for, a new building, or not use seg fees to pay for any of the outdoor areas not directly related to the services Union South provides.
This editorial board supported the Union initiative under the assumption that the redesign would improve the building's energy efficiency, upgrade technology and increase meeting space available to students. While the Union South redesign is generally impressive and will appropriately accompany the spectacle of the new Center for Discovery across Johnson Street, the frivolous proposals in discussion must be shelved or funded by something other than student seg fees.
