The near 32 million Mississippi State University Union – 96,768 square foot building covering more than two acres – will become State’s “living room” in the fall.
The huge three-story structure should be furnished and in operation by the beginning of the 196465 academic year, in September, according to Bill Foster, Union director.
“I believe it will truly be the ‘living room’ of the university.” beamed Foster, “the place where we entertain our guests, whether they be parents, prospective students or visiting firemen.”
The structure will be completed at a cost of $1.8 million, acquired from three sources. A $1.2 million bond issue will be retired by a $10 fee per student for each semester. The legislature appropriated $400,000 and $200,000 is from the State Building Commission fund.
The new Union is in a central campus location, surrounded on all sides by the YMCA building; Lee Hall, the administration building; the University cafeteria and grill; the ROTC parade grounds and classroom buildings.
It partially covers the site formerly occupied by Old Main Dormitory, which was completely destroyed by fire during mid-term examinations in December, 1958.
On the Union’s ground floor. will be a large bookstore, recreation areas, television lounge. yearbook and campus newspaper offices, a student workshop and darkroom, Student Association offices and the Student Senate 12-chair barber shop and the building’s receiving station.
The main floor will accommodate the main lounge, a large snack bar, kitchen facilities, a dining room and central information desk where complete files on students and faculty will help locate anyone on campus. It will also include the ground floor of a large ballroom with portable stage where large banquets, pageants, dances and programs will be held.
The third floor will contain six conference rooms, faculty and day student lounges, an art lounge for display of paintings, ceramics and the like, offices, and a small auditorium.
The MSU Union Board, organized by Dr. D. W. Colvard, University president, is responsible for making policy recommendations to the President. Its membership consists of outstanding student leaders, faculty and staff members.
Standing committees of the board are concerned with entertainment, fine arts, house publicity, social, secretarial and recreational matters. Chairman of each and the Union’s student director, Bill Hunter of Jackson, form the Program Council. The Union program will be under the supervision of the Division of Student Affairs and Dr. D. W. Aiken, dean.
The Union information and control desk will have facilities to pipe music or announcements to any part of the building. One of the building’s two elevators will be for use by patrons. Students will also have access to lockers and file room for student organization materials.
A tunnel connecting the Union with the University cafeteria will be used for quick transportation of food from cafeteria kitchens to Union events.
The University ballroom can accommodate 500 couples for dancing and 1,000 persons for a banquet. Other features of the ballroom include multi-color lighting control, a sound system, a piano, organ and motion picture equipment.
