After nine long years that never seemed to end, with deadlines being pushed further and further back, it’s finally done.
It’s hard to believe — even to imagine — that as we walk across campus we’ll no longer hear the sounds of construction coming from behind those blue fences that were set up for the longest time, almost mystifying us as to what exactly this new student union was going to be like.
However, Phase II of the Student Union has opened, and its hallways are now filled with students’ voices resonating off of each wall with life.
I, for one, am super excited about what Phase II of the Student Union has brought and will bring to UT.
One huge aspect of the new structure that has already begun to shape The Daily Beacon is that the focal point for campus news has shifted. It has become more central with many meetings, lectures, coverages and other important news coming straight from the heart of campus.
Personally, when I find out that there’s a Board of Trustees meeting, I won’t have to go running across to the Visitor Center to cover it.
There are also many great features that this new Student Union brings to UT, beyond the shift in the flow of news. The new student center has the potential to bring all of us as a campus closer together, whether that be standing in line at Rising Roll or Steak n’ Shake, hanging out on the couches where the torch overlooks the “living room,” utilizing one of the new auditoriums or learning to dance in the ballroom.
And although I haven’t eaten at Steak n’ Shake yet — because, let’s face it, the line up to this point has been way too long (although I now have 100 things I can do while I’m in that line) — I have already been hooked by Rising Rolls’ chicken and apple sandwich. I mean, the sweet crunch of the apple paired with the salty, fresh chicken salad is a perfect combination.
Beyond everything else, I’m looking forward to spending more time at the Student Union, hanging with friends, eating good food and reporting on the news that’s happening right here in the center of campus.
The Student Government Association and other campus organizations utilize the student organization space on the first floor of Phase II of the Student Union.
