This is an updated version of a story that first ran in The Daily Cardinal Nov. 2. The article has been changed to correct a number of factual errors from the original.
The Memorial Union Reinvestment project design committee met Tuesday to discuss changes to the project in the wake of the recent ASM referendum, in which students voted against the proposed Union theater addition.
The proposed addition to the Union theatre lobby, one of the project's major components and the source of recent controversy, was recently rejected by student voters with 50.24 percent of voters saying they did not support the addition's design.
According to Union President Katie Fischer, the design committee has "taken the results of the ASM referendum to heart" and their architects are drafting new plans, which
should be complete for consideration within 30 days.
The committee also discussed changes that must be made to renovation plans after the architectural design team studied the plan and estimated the cost at $65 million, which exceeds their $52 million budget. The team has since found more efficient ways to construct the design, reducing the
estimate to $57 million.
The committee proposed to eliminate expansion for the "Games Room." While not meeting the original goals for the space, the space limitations reduce the costs that are based on square-footage.
Another proposal would affect Hoofers, an outdoor recreation organization. This plan would eliminate the elevator currently in their plans to help transport Hoofers' equipment.
UW-Madison History Professor John Sharpless said he disagreed with the cuts to Hoofers.
"It just seems to me that we're being mean to Hoofers," said Sharpless. "But maybe we have to be mean for budget purposes. We may just say, 'you guys have to cough up some space to save some money.' But I remain unconvinced that it's a necessity."
Memorial Union Reinvestment Student Manager Colin Plunkett responded by saying many areas would need to make accommodations to meet budgetary requirements.
"I don't think in my eyes this is aimed towards being mean to Hoofers," he said. "I think this goes back to some of the criteria saying that we need to spread this pain out through everyone."
