Commercial Architecture February 2018 - 14

FEATURE

education

tionally part of student unions incorporated into other
student facilities such as student health centers and

Ken's V I E W

academic buildings," Smith said.
"Some additional, or more specific, elements in-

View From The Bunker

clude coffee bars; climbing walls; bowling alleys;
many types of traditional gaming features such as billiards, pool, and ping-pong tables; scores of high-def
televisions; resource centers that offer student services

ampus life is amazing these days, at least to

Still, there was a serious undercurrent of unease.

those who remember simpler times of protests,

Many of us were enrolled in Paranoia 101. Word was

today; student newspaper, TV, and radio station offic-

tear gas, and paranoia. In typical old-fogey fashion,

it was not advisable to walk down dark alleys near

es; black-box theaters; indoor and outdoor cinemas;

they're likely to opine that kids today have it too

campus looking like some kind of hippie or outside

fitness center/exercise rooms; interfaith prayer rooms;

easy. I recently drove through the campus of a major

agitator. Attacks on students by locals were rumored,

and spaces or elements to honor the university mascot,

Southern university and was taken aback by how

though not confirmed. Nevertheless, I made sure

such as the wood feature wall we did at NC State's

ostentatious sorority row was. I'd read that fraternities

that the parking sticker that allowed me access to

Talley Student Union of their wolf," he added.

and sororities were on the decline, but the word

university lots was removable for when I ventured

apparently hadn't penetrated this particular outpost.

off campus. Too, most of the male student body, if

for international, LGBTQ , religious, and other groups
that make up the diverse populations of universities

Student unions serve students who reside on campus but are also a resource for those who commute.

And then there are student unions. As Jay Smith

they let their grades slip or took a semester off to

"Most of our experiences are with universities where

of Duda|Paine Architects notes in the accompanying

"find themselves," faced an involuntary tour of Viet

the majority of students reside on campus," Smith

article, student unions as a building type were first

Nam. Further, we were never sure the National Guard

said, "but these institutions generally also have a signif-

constructed in the 1950s into the 1970s and later

wouldn't be called in to punish us for tearing up the

icant commuter population. For students who live on

expanded. I attended only one university that had a

lawn.

campus, the student union serves as a campus social

building specifically called a student union. At other

In retrospect, the bunker-like ambiance of the

hub and provides space outside of their dorm rooms to

institutions, makeshift student centers tended to be

black-painted refuge secreted in the center of campus

meet or study. Student unions are often open for ex-

in basements and other cobbled-together, disused

was the perfect place to hide out. Compared to today's

tended hours and thereby serve as an alternative to the

spaces.

light-filled, airy student unions, that pleasantly dark

socializing that in the past might have occurred via a
local bar scene.

I remember one rather fondly. It was in the

basement space was remarkable in many ways. For

basement of a 1920s residence hall, with the student-

one thing, the rule was "smoke 'em if you got 'em."

Commuter students use student unions as a 'home

center part barely identified from the outside. You

Tobacco products, that is. Some students did and

away from home,' especially when they have classes

had to know it was there. It was a time when the

some didn't, but there was no fake coughing and hand

spaced out during the day. All students use these

Viet Nam war raged and protests against it roiled

flapping to express displeasure or alarm that one

buildings between classes and are using them more

campuses. The Rolling Stones had a song called

might die from an errant whiff of smoke. Sure, there

and more as meal plans accommodate alternative food

"Paint It Black" that expressed the era's zeitgeist,

was second-hand smoke, but at least the room wasn't

choices, which are typically located in unions as op-

so it was not particularly surprising that the student

saturated with EMF radiation. Truth be told, we didn't

posed to the dining halls. Today's student union is a

center was painted black-walls and ceiling. And the

know about either at the time.

destination, where students often spend extended peri-

administration let the students get away with the paint

The other thing that probably would shock today's

ods of time on their own, with a study group, or sim-

job. Better, presumably, to let them express their angst

sensitive students was the jukebox, which featured

ply surrounded by their friends," he said. CA

more or less harmlessly with paint than to let them

the vocal version of the theme from the movie

burn down the ROTC building.

M*A*S*H. Some of you may not know, but that vocal

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Duda|Paine Architects
Talley Student Union
Perkins + Will, student unions
ACUI Facility Design Awards

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

FEBRUARY 2018

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

College students today, I'm told, crave safe places

was released as a single called "Suicide Is Painless."

to attend to social media or whatever they do with

Today, that would merit at least a trigger warning but

their free time. Well, that black basement was our safe

more likely would be banned altogether. Good times.

place. The killings of students at Kent State (OH) and

I'm sure today's students have plenty of other

Jackson State (MS) were fresh in our minds. When

things to worry about-repaying college loans, finding

I arrived on campus as a transfer student, some of

a decent job or any job, having an acceptable number

my fellow students were camped out on the lawn in

of friends or followers on social media, where to

front of Old Main in protest. However, being polite

charge their phones and laptops, and other important

and respectful Midwesterners, they refrained from

stuff. Indeed, I would expect more of them to be living

occupying the administration building, taking over the

in bunkers. But why would they? They have some

president's office, and smoking his cigars and drinking

pretty pleasant and agreeable student unions to which

his cognac. They simply trampled the lawn a bit and

they can retreat-smoking and upsetting lyrics not

occasionally chanted, "Heck no, we won't go-unless

permitted. Enjoy it while you can, kids.

you absolutely insist."

- Kenneth W. Betz, Senior Editor

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