The Memorial Union is currently in the process of

making improvements and planning for future ones.

With work on rennovating the statues in the fountain

and installing a new water pump, the north entrance of the Union

will also be redone with a plan to remove the current ramp and

bring the sidewalks right up to the door — enabling handicap

accessibility and easier access overall.

Part of this project is being funded by the

Government of the Student Body. GSB has decided to contribute

$40,000 [corrected from: will be contributing anywhere from $40,000

to $200,000] to the project. Members of the GSB see this as a way

of improving one of the focal points of every Iowa State student’s

life.

“I think that the Memorial Union is one of the most

utilized and revered buildings on campus and is many times the

first impression of Iowa State,” said Adam Guenther, GSB Senator

for Inter-Residence Hall Association. “The improvements to the

Memorial Union will make the Memorial Union, and thus the campus,

more guest-and-user-friendly and continue to make a positive step

forward to making our Memorial Union one of the best.”

One of the main points which was brought up during

the meetings was that the Union is not a student organization

itself. Gail Ferlazzo, an adviser to the GSB, stated that the Union

is key component to many different student organizations and that

it benefits all students.

“The Union allows student organizations to use our

facilities for their meetings and events, so improvements to the

building only helps these student groups,” Ferlazzo said.

During the GSB meetings pertaining to these

improvements, the idea by members of the GSB that if they were to

fund this project for $40,000 — a large amount of money in their

eyes — there should be a plaque commending the groups and people

who helped fund the improvements.

With funding approved by the GSB, the improvements

for the fountain should be finished soon, having it ready and

working for the spring. The ramp addition project will not begin

until next summer and will be ready by the beginning of the next

school year.