Maucker Union turns 40

Current and former students, faculty and staff sat in the middle of Maucker Union Friday, surrounded by balloons and streamers as Northern Iowa Student Government President Adam Haselhuhn led them in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” for the 40-year-old Union.

And with all of the facelifts and reconstructive surgery the building has seen throughout its history, it’s looking pretty young for a 40-year-old. The celebration was also held to rededicate the building’s newly renovated lower level, the latest in the series of reconstructive surgeries for what Haselhuhn considers the heart of the campus for students.

The Union first opened April 7, 1969, despite petitions by faculty to preserve the green open space it was built on. According to Lisa Kratz, Maucker Union director, the design for the building won an award for architecture before it was even built.

“It is an award-winning building from the ‘60s, and some of that is obvious as you walk around the building, but it is an award-winning design,” she said.

The facility has seen several changes under its four directors since it was dedicated as the University Union April 20, 1969.

According to Vice President for Student Affairs Terry Hogan, beer was served in Maucker from 1972 to 1986. A “swarm” of media covered the first day the Union served beer, but only two students actually bought the alcohol.

“(Former director John Ketter’s) remedy to that was to buy beers for all of the students who were standing around watching,” Hogan said. “Times have changed since then.”

The first major addition to the Union came in 1990 under the direction of Renee Romano, who oversaw the construction of the Old Central Ballroom complex. Former Union Director  Jan Hanish brought about the plaza level, which includes the Center for Multicultural Education and the Student Involvement and Activities Center, as part of the building’s second major renovation in 2002.

Ketter’s daughters, Romano and Hanish were present at the rededication to recognize the Union’s history and celebrate the newest renovation of what Romano called “the best Union that I have ever seen.”

University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen attested to the utility and versatility of the Union.

“The first four years of my experience with this particular facility were not very pleasant, because I only came here to go to Board of Regents meetings,” he said. “I’ve learned there’s so much more to this facility than that particular auditorium. It got so much better in 2006.”

Joel Anderson, president of the Maucker Union Advisory Board, also lauded the versatility of the 40-year-old facility.

“In my opinion, I think the Union is the only building on campus that doesn’t have a set role for the university,” he said.

“My favorite (example of) versatility of the union just happened recently,” he continued. “(On Oct. 29) the Regents met in the Ballroom and decided the future for next semester. But also in that very room last year, I saw David Cook—the American Idol winner—perform. So I think it’s really interesting to see the same room to be transformed to this giant concert hall to this giant room where not the best conversation is going on.”

On a day when members of Northern Iowa Student Government, the Maucker Union Advisory Board, various student organizations and current and former employees of Maucker Union gathered for a symbolic ribbon tying to commemorate the lower level’s renovation, Allen wished to recognize the many people that have kept the Union alive.

“It’s not the building per se—although it did win awards—it’s the people. It’s the people who make this thing happen,” he said. “And so we’re really here today to celebrate not only the visionary leaders, the directors of this facility, but all the people who worked here over that 40 year time. Who basically worked to help students, and for this campus in particular, that’s a very, very important service. It is a definitive representation of campus life here at UNI, and we are very pleased to have it.”

 

Be the first to comment on this article!

Add comment


I am not posting spam. I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Enter the characters in the image above:

log out