H -°, L 7° | Tomorrow: 
H 17°, L 4°A momentous occasion has passed on this campus, mostly unbeknownst to the press and the everyday student. On Feb. 16, ASM leadership finalized the process for naming the new Union South building. Suggestions will be called for, and the students will hold much sway over the final decision.
Of course, we expect the usual entries: Something concerning newness or innovation such as The 21st Century Center, or one encapsulating the students it will most likely serve such as the Engineering Union. Naturally, just as Marquette University did in 2005 when choosing their mascot, we might end up reverting back to the original and again calling it Union South. While all of these expected submissions have their merits, I advocate for something more fluid, more dynamic, something that truly catches onto the ideals of inclusiveness, forward thinking and connections to the past that we so value at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this spirit, I wish to throw my proposed name into the mix: The Wisconsin Alumni, Student and Teachers’ Experience.
Now, I know what many of you must be thinking: “Why so long and unwieldy of a name?” Allow me to explain. The Wisconsin Alumni, Student and Teachers’ Experience truly honors the men and women who begin their adult lives at UW. We will forever be Badgers and will forever hope to call the Wisconsin Alumni, Student and Teachers’ Experience home when we come back to visit our alma mater. The name invokes pride in the ownership of our building from students, provides memories for the alumni and reminds us all that the educators on this campus are an integral part in tying us together as Badgers. Alumni pull in the past, and Students and Teachers showcase the present.
The word “Experience” ties everything together. Not only does it serve to unite all Badgers in the common goal of making this campus a better place, it also provides a good backdrop to the future of the building. The Wisconsin Alumni, Students and Teachers’ Experience will not just be a place to go for lunch, it will truly be a ‘living’ space, where people will gather to connect to one another, form ideas for the future and build lasting memories and “Experiences.”
Time alone will remove the stains of botched ASM elections. Students will move on from the smudges of paying $192 a year for the construction efforts. When this occurs, what will be left shining on the corner of Randall and Johnson streets will be the W.A.S.T.E.: a true home for all Badgers, past, present and future.
Michael P. Romenesko
Economics/Political Science, Senior
SSFC Vice Chairman
IP hash: 9308fe6d
what a W.A.S.T.E. of my time.
IP hash: fa657374
Michael, if you feel so inclined, I encourage your submission to the naming contest. Feel free to send it in to [email protected] Although, I find it unsettling that members of the group who want to oversee the naming process are simultaneously attempting to make a mockery of the process. As I understand it, the Wisconsin Union and ASM have had the same goals all along, to maximize student involvement in the new union building project. What I don�t understand is why ASM, representation for the entire student body, has gone to such great lengths to publicly criticize and demonize the Union for its progress. What I�d like to see is ASM address their issues with the Union in a more professional manner by voicing their concerns directly to Union leadership and consequently, working with Union leadership to improve any shortcomings on the Union�s part. Right now, nothing is getting done because the way folks in ASM, and the Badger Herald for that matter, voice their concerns is getting tired and is, ultimately, ineffective. I am more than willing to sit down and roll up my sleeves. The ball is in your court ASM, and I am all ears.
Patrick Tilley WUD Vice President � Project Management [email protected]
IP hash: 51cc7517
Patrick Tilley,
How come its your opinion that every single ASM representative and for that matter every single ASM member should act as one monolithic voice to support your call. Just because the ASM student council leadership and ASM student council as a whole is pushing for the right for students to be able to voice their opinion on the name of the building that they are paying for doesn’t mean that individual representatives or ASM members can’t also express there disdain for the project was began.
The problem many of us have is that we believe the entire project is a WASTE of money. Mr. Romenesko outlined that sentiment in his letter. The solution to that particular problem would be to create a time machine go back in time and have WUD and the UW-Administration honor the original sentiments of students and not build the building or to use other funds.
If you have ideas on how to make progress down that road Patrick Tilley I’m, all ears. The ball is in your court!
IP hash: db6cdaa4
Great editorial! I’d rename it the $100 million W.A.S.T.E..
IP hash: 5879167e
What a terrible attempt at comedy; you have the sense of humor of a butt-plugged Dick Cheney. I’d tell you to not quit your day job but the world would be better place if you took up stand-up and dropped your aspirations of becoming a narcissistic predatory finance yuppie. By the way, this naming contest is an incredibly mundane issue and just goes to show ASM’s adept capacity to waste people’s time and avoid doing meaningful work.
IP hash: ac3994cb
“paragon of elitism” “the sense of humor of a butt-plugged Dick Cheney” “a narcissistic predatory finance yuppie”
Yes. Perfect description.
IP hash: 27b72d7f
I’d like to retweet this.
IP hash: 1aefa13d
I have to wonder whether the BH opinion section would be making such a stink about the new Union South if it were closer to the business and journalism schools. As an engineering student, I know many of the professors, faculty, and students who are excited to finally have a place to eat, socialize, and study outside of libraries that doesn’t involve walking across campus. Just because you, personally don’t expect to get use out of a building doesn’t make it a waste of money.
IP hash: 51cc7517
I work in Chemistry right next to the demolished Union South and let me tell you there existed a place to eat socialized and study outside of libraries that didn’t involved walking across campus. It was called Union South before they demolished it. So it is a waste of money. The existing building could be being used by you at this time for far less than the ~$200/year price tag you paying for it right now. You have to ask yourself is $200/year worth having to walk to the other side of campus to eat, socialize and study while the build a new building to do those things which replaces an old building which served those needs already. Seriously… I don’t think so!!!
IP hash: 2eb4bee5
Finally, someone who understands why we voted ‘no’ twice in a row. The New Union South, WASTE, or whatever you want to call it, is unnecessary in its current form. Thanks to this project, there also is no place to play billiards for a reasonable price nor a place to go bowling without hopping on a bus for an hour.
IP hash: 8cade38a
Patrick,
Echoing Colin’s sentiments, I’d like to repeat that ASM is not wholly in agreement about the Union, there are many voices in ASM. Michael has a right to his opinion, just as I do to mine.
As you and X may remember, I have spent the greater part of this year trying to work with both of you to ensure that students are fairly represented. Similar to ASM, one opinion does not encompass the vast number of ideas and beliefs of the student body and I believe that the Shared Governance appointees to Union Council reflect that diversity of opinions. I have constantly striven to maintain a peaceful coexistence at least between ASM Shared Governance and Union leadership. Unfortunately, I have met roadblocks along the way and I equally blame ASM and Union leadership for the inability to collaborate.
I truly believe that ASM and the Union can work together and if I am Chair of ASM Shared Governance again next year, I plan to continue working toward a better working relationship.
Melissa Hanley ASM Shared Governance Chair
IP hash: 8cade38a
Patrick,
Echoing Colin’s sentiments, I’d like to repeat that ASM is not wholly in agreement about the Union, there are many voices in ASM. Michael has a right to his opinion, just as I do to mine. As you and X may remember, I have spent the greater part of this year trying to work with both of you to ensure that students are fairly represented. Similar to ASM, one opinion does not encompass the vast number of ideas and beliefs of the student body and I believe that the Shared Governance appointees to Union Council reflect that diversity of opinions. I have constantly striven to maintain a peaceful coexistence at least between ASM Shared Governance and Union leadership. Unfortunately, I have met roadblocks along the way and I equally blame ASM and Union leadership for the inability to collaborate. I truly believe that ASM and the Union can work together and if I am Chair of ASM Shared Governance again next year, I plan to continue working toward a better working relationship.
Melissa Hanley ASM Shared Governance Chair
IP hash: 04d2d28b
Did a two-year old with a poopy diaper write this letter? This is what masquerades as dialogue on a university campus? This is the level of leadership coming out of ASM? No wonder ASM is so out of touch with the average student these days. And, don’t forget that the elections so often complained about were botched by ASM…their process, their foul-up.
IP hash: 2c1d0442
Actually, the election problems were a fault of DoIT, not ASM. If you’d like more of a history lesson, you can most certainly find it on other articles about the Building Project election, or feel free to contact me.
-Carl Fergus Former Chair- SSFC
IP hash: cef3b949
LOL! A two year old with a poopy diaper? Where did that come from?
Though I must admit, I did get quite a chuckle while reading it in my lecture. Perhaps it is because the word poopy is just so silly.
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Michael, As an English major, I am thoroughly impressed with your witty satirical prose. If more people in our student government wrote like you I would pay WAY more attention to what was happening in our university community. Well done!
IP hash: 4543a0f0
YES! I would totally vote for this name, its perfect!
IP hash: aa819861
The sad thing about this letter is that Romenesko most likely had it ghost-written for him. In typical unscrupulous fashion he put his name on it in an awfully pathetic and self-important attempt at portraying himself as something other than a soul-less automaton. Epic Fail. Of course, if I had written something like this I’d also want to give credit to someone else.
IP hash: 798e5103
Does not compute… Error… Error.