by Adam Frank, Campus Writer
A new student activity center and University Health Services facility may be built atop University Square.
Student organization and committee leaders gathered at Memorial Union Thursday night to discuss plans for a future home of University Health Services and the proposed activity center, which would be used to house student groups and organizations.
University Health Services has been looking for new space for quite some time.
Trent Krupp, UHS/SAC building project chair, explained that the main building, located on the corner of University Avenue and Breese Terrace, is over 40 years old and does not meet many of the needs of the organization.
“It was originally seen as a temporary space,” he explained, adding that UHS has been in the building for over 30 years. “The ceilings are leaky, and the university refuses to put any more money into the building except for absolutely necessary repairs.”
Student organizations on campus say they are currently faced with the dilemma of not being able to find space for their organizations, and many spaces that are available are highly inadequate.
According to Krupp, the University of Wisconsin does not measure up well to other schools in the area in space allotment for student organizations.
“We are at the bottom of the lot in the Big 10 and the UW system as far as percentage of student groups having space,” he said.
This perceived problem has been brewing for years.
ASM recognized in 1995 that student organizations need more space on campus. Then, in the spring of 1999, the Board of Regents promised University Health Services funding for the improvement of UHS.
Recently, the Board of Regents gave UHS/SAC top building priority on campus, and the No. 4 priority rank among all the UW System schools.
The building project is expected to cost $34 million, half of which will come from student segregated fees, at a possible $20 per student per semester for 20 years.
The State of Wisconsin, as well as other private corporations that will have vested interest in the building will provide the other $17 million.
The preferred site by the UHS/SAC Building Project is the current location of University Square.
Although this is not a University-owned property, the UW is in negotiations with the owners with a deal pending.
The proposed deal would give the current owners access to the ground level of the new structure for commercial purposes, similar to the current University Square. UHS and SAC would occupy the next two floors, with any remaining floors used for university administration and other offices.
Currently, University Square houses businesses like University Square 4 theaters, the Den and Baker’s Too.
According to Krupp, the new building would give new home to 70-80 student organizations, as well as provide dance floors, meeting halls, and lounges. It is uncertain whether all businesses would remain in the new structure.
If UW acquires University Square, the university plans to demolish it some time this summer, then start construction of the new building either toward the end of the summer or next fall.
