ConnectingU | March '18

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CONNECTING VOLUME 5

In this issue of ConnectingU - Volume 5, you will find: SUA Upcoming Events The NEW Union Square!

KU Bookstore Award and Case Study South Dining Commons Unveils New Art Installation New Lounge Chairs in DeBruce Center The NEW Burge Grand Re-opening Director’s Corner with David Mucci Student Spotlight: New SUA Execs Recent Awards and Accolades @KUunion Discover the Union online at

union.ku.edu

upcoming events

U

CONNECTING VOLUME 5

HIGHLIGHTS UPCOMING EVENTS 3/27/18: Mini Art Workshop (Traditions Area, Kansas Union, Level 4 - 7PM) 3/28/18: International Night (The Jay, Kansas Union, Level 1 - 6PM) 3/28/18: Grocery Bingo (Hashinger Theatre - 7PM) 3/29/18: Scoop of the Month (Traditions Area, Kansas Union, Level 4 - 3PM) 3/29/18: DnD Adventure 1 (Roll20 Esports Lounge, Kansas Union, Level 1 - 6PM) 3/29/18: Karaoke Night (Daisy Hill Commons - 9PM) 4/3/18: Cooking Class (Big 12 Room, Kansas Union, Level 5 - 4:30PM) 4/4/18: Cultural Crafts (Traditions Area, Kansas Union, Level 4 - 2PM) 4/5/18: Tea At 3 (Traditions Area, Kansas Union, Level 4 - 3PM) 4/6/18: Retro Game Night (Roll20 Esports Lounge, Kansas Union, Level 1 - 8PM) 4/6/18: Farmers Ball Semi-Finals (The Bottleneck - 8PM)

THE NEW UNION SQUARE! In an effort to activate the 3rd floor dining area in the Union outside of the lunch hour, we have upgraded the 6,000 square feet of space with LED lighting, audio/visual experiences, and a variety of seating (including rocking chairs, individual study pods, and cafĂŠ seating) which allows for different postures and interactions. All of this is atop new flooring and ceiling treatments that call you to come right in and have a seat!

KU BOOKSTORE AWARD AND CASE STUDY Every year, the ICBA (Independent College Bookstore Association) evaluates information provided by schools in the ICSR (Independent College Stores Report) and awards schools based on the performance over the previous five years in certain categories. At the 2018 ICBA Conference in Anaheim, CA, the KU Bookstore was awarded the Supplies Management Award. Trish Catoe-Jess, Supplies Buyer, accepted the award for the KU Bookstore. Trish attributed the success to several different things, but top of the list was University faculty partnerships, creative sourcing, and just-in-time delivery.

SOUTH DINING COMMONS UNVEILS ART INSTALLATION South Dining Commons, KU Dining's newest dining location at the University of Kansas, recently unveiled a new art installation. A rendition of the traditional "K" game day flag now adorns the feature wall of the state-of-the-art dining facility on the Lawrence campus. “Having our dining center so close to Allen Fieldhouse, we wanted our interiors to have a sports and school spirit feel," said Mark Petrino, director of KU Dining Services. "When we were brainstorming what to put on this massive wall, we decided we wanted something that would immediately catch the eye of every guest as they entered. Whitney Mahoney from Union Programs mentioned the 'K' flag that was originally flown on game days on top of Frasier Hall. We all said 'yes' at the same time, thinking, 'what would show school spirit more than this iconic piece of KU history?'"

In addition, the Nebraska Book Company recently featured The Shop at Chalmers Hall in a case study on College Store Design.

NEW LOUNGE CHAIRS IN DeBRUCE CENTER The mezzanine on Level 3 of the DeBruce Center now has a great combination of table seating and new relaxing lounge chairs with accompanying tables to hold books or coffee. Great for lunch, or to relax and study with beautiful, panoramic views of the KU campus!

GRAND RE-OPENING!

THE NEW BURGE UNION

Join us for the grand re-opening of the Burge Union. Enjoy tunes, food, and information about the new space and all it has to offer.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018 Ribbon Cutting at 2:30pm - Activities from 2:30-5pm 1565 Irving Hill Rd., Lawrence, KS 66045

APRIL 27, 2018

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: NEW SUA EXECS DIRECTOR’S CORNER Looking Back Well the Groundhog doomed KU. Two campus closings in three days has to be a record (Curtis Marsh in KU Info has investigated).

For the Union, it was business as usual. Due to our service work, all Union employees are classified as “essential”, which means you come in if you can.

Hall residents depend on our staff for nourishment and encouragement in confronting the storms.

University work crews and stray office refugees depend on the warmth and fare of the Kansas Union.

Student Union Activities and Catering even mustered the regular three o’clock tea on February 22nd in the Traditions Lounge for the intrepid and students in need of distraction.

Going Forward Fortunately, the New Burge Union was already enclosed and unimpeded in the push for an April 2nd public open. The dedication, featuring the Chancellor Girod, is scheduled for Friday, April 27 at 2:30 pm.

Everyone is invited to join in a day of activities, giveaways, food, beverage and frolic.

Prior to the dedication, the next major undertaking is The Big Event that mobilizes 2500 KU volunteers in service to the Lawrence community.

Then we are all thrust into the mad swirl of Commencement—a wonderful celebration of student achievement that tests the stamina of all in fulfilling event demands.

Then there’s a moment to catch our breath before the summer plunge into camps and orientation.

Our efforts are inextricably entwined in the fabric of KU; keeping it all stitched together is an act of skill and will in serving KU. -David Mucci Director KU Memorial Union

SUA is proud to announce their new leadership for the 2018 year. These leaders, selected in November, returned to the office on January 10th to prepare for an exciting spring.

SUA Executive Leadership: SUA President: Harneet Sanghera A triple major in Finance, Marketing, and Political Science, Harneet is a junior from Olathe, KS. Entering her third year as an SUA leader, Harneet has also been involved with KU Mock Trial, KU Student Senate, and serves as the KU Memorial Corporation Board President.

SUA Vice President of Administration: Connor Dougan A junior from Topeka, KS, Connor is double majoring in Global and International Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Connor serves two roles within the MMP Office as he is also the Director of Campus Recruitment for The Big Event.

SUA Vice President of Communications: Bailey May Originally from Naperville, IL, Bailey is a junior studying Strategic Communications. Bailey also serves as the Membership Development Officer for Delta Delta Delta.

SUA Vice President of Development: Autumn Crafton Autumn is serving a second term in this position, a rarity in SUA and a sign of her significant contributions last semester. She is a junior from Derby, KS majoring in Management and Leadership.

SUA Vice President of Outreach: Megan Bartlett A sophomore from Lenexa, KS, Megan is double majoring in Business Analytics and Marketing. In addition to her involvement in SUA, she is a an RA in Oliver Hall.

SUA Coordinators: Fine Arts Event Coordinator: Maisie Conrad Fine Arts Gallery Coordinator: Cody Murray Current Events Coordinator: Rebecca Rajagopal Culinary Coordinator: Abigail Greenberg Cultural Programming Coordinator: Mariam Machano Live Music Co-Coordinators: Evan Hatley and Myah Coberly Tech and Games Coordinator: Lauren Peterson Special Events Coordinator: Lauren Coleman Communications Coordinator: Allison Ellis Additionally, the SUA spring calendars are available outlining all that this student organization has to offer this semester. If you have not yet received one, be sure to pick up one at the Kansas Union Welcome Desk or at any SUA event.

@KUunion Discover the Union online at

union.ku.edu

upcoming events

RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES DeBruce Center Award of Merit The DeBruce Center recently received an Award of Merit from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. The Award of Merit indicates a "meritorious contribution to lighting design" by Henderson Engineering.

KJHK CBI Awards KJHK student leaders Rachel Bennett, Dylan Fox, Ben Leeper, and Ellie Fehlig and advisor Tressa Lee recently attended the 2017 College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) conference in San Antonio, Texas.

The team brought back a great deal of useful information from conference sessions, including ways to improve training, digital presence, and the overall operation of the station. In addition, KJHK received a total of three awards at this year's conference: 2nd place for Best Live Production, 2nd place for Best Student Media Website, and 3rd place for Best Sports Play-By-Play.

Lisa Kring Wins ACUI Award At the ACUI Region II Conference in November, Lisa Kring was awarded the William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award. The William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award was established in 2004 and honors one of ACUI’s most influential regional leaders. Bill Smith spent 46 years as a staff member in a college union on the campuses of West Virginia University, Kansas State University, and the University of South Dakota.

The William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award is designed to honor and recognize student union or student activities professionals of Region II member institutions with 5-10 years of experience in the field, who have made exceptional contributions and demonstrated a significant commitment to the student union/student activities profession on their campuses and within ACUI. Described as the having “an altruistic impulse to volunteer,” Lisa Kring is known in the Region and at the Kansas Union for her “deep sense of community building.” This recipient has an unwavering commitment to providing students “the support, tools, guidance, and direction they need.” One nominator offered that Lisa “fulfills the Union mission and community creation of free exchange across campuses and diverse constituencies and embodies the qualities Bill Smith brought to his long and successful career.”

SUA ACUI Awards Also at the ACUI Region II Conference in November, SUA entered into the Region’s “Steal This Idea” Graphics Competition. They came home with the first place award in the Calendars/Schedules category for their spring 2017 semester calendar. Additionally, they won the second place award in the Posters category (one of the most entered categories) for their Board Game Night poster. Both of these items were designed

by Alyssa Cooper, a student graphic designer within the Marketing, Media, and Programs Department.

Champion of the Arts Award Celebrating its upcoming senior artists in the Kansas Union Gallery, Student Union Activities held its second annual Spring Gallery Gala on January 25th. The second Champion of the Arts Award was also awarded to Heather Anderson, the Marketing and Communications coordinator for the KU School of the Arts.

The Champion of the Arts Award is given to an individual or group who shows exceptional support to, and engagement with, the arts. Anderson was nominated by Mary Anne Jordan, Chair of the Visual Art Department. She praised Anderson for her incredible work promoting the arts programs here at KU and attracting future Jayhawks to campus.

Anderson shared she felt honored to receive this award. She expressed how important it is to share an appreciation of the arts and express that to others. SUA Fine Art Coordinators Maisie Conrad and Cody Murray presented the award to Anderson.