I am unapologetic and passionate when it comes to the many things I find great about the University of Wisconsin. I enjoy walking up the hill and seeing smiling faces and friends on the way to class. I get chills when I see the thousands of red-clad fans on a football Saturday, singing with arms waving in unison to “Varsity.” I believe that when I touch Abe’s foot before an exam, I will get a better grade. Above all, I am a romantic for the Memorial Union Terrace in the springtime.
A spring afternoon at the Terrace is when you really begin to understand that there is change in the air. Released from winter’s grip, students once again are able to bask in the sun, enjoying the spectacular setting. More like a European beer garden or a resort than a bar, the Terrace is a place where people congregate, drink and revel in the common thread that is the University of Wisconsin community.
The Terrace represents different things for different people. Old alumni come by to share a drink, laugh with some friends and reminisce about the past. I learned this summer that the Terrace and Lake Mendota hold a sacred status for some, becoming the final resting place for the ashes of loved ones.
Center stage in the never-ending cycle of life, the Terrace is hallowed ground for the start of new beginnings. It is often one of the very first places freshman come to visit, bright-eyed and naíve to what lies ahead, eager to experience one of the most unique college settings in the world.
It is a site for weddings, engagements and graduation festivities. As some of us anxiously await the conclusion to our college careers, I anticipate many will head to the Terrace for a last hurrah. I hope the weather gods create a gorgeous day for you to celebrate your accomplishments. I’m not certain if the weather has always been good on graduation day, but it is how I would like to remember it.
With graduation weekend approaching, I cannot help but reflect on my time here at UW, which often leads me back to the Terrace. I think back to the countless hours where time melted away into a glorious Mendota sunset. It was at the Terrace that the ever-accelerating pace and grind seemed to stop, or at least pause. I can close my eyes and eyes and think of the voices, the laughter and the stories shared.
The beauty of the Terrace is its simplicity. Take a beautiful place by the lake, throw in some beer, brats and live music, and add a vibrant student body — and you have the Terrace, a successful formula devoid of complication. Although the occasional bee, card blown away by the wind, or sunburn can be a nuisance, I do not know too many people who seem to mind.
As the year comes to a close, I think how fortunate it is to be part of the Wisconsin experience. Like it or not, it is at this university where you have made your friends, gained an education and probably had one of the best times of your life. While our friends at other schools can relate a similar story, they do not have any institution on par with the Terrace to celebrate their enriching voyage.
There is nothing more enjoyable than spending time at the Terrace with some friends. As always with graduation, some of our friends will soon be leaving.
Our encounters might have been brief, and some of us might be going far away. Yet I think for many, their spirits and hearts will stay in Madison, something I did not truly understand until recently.
This past summer, I can’t recall the countless times I called my brother in Germany, my parents in Texas, or my friends in California and Chicago. All I had to do was tell them I was sitting outside at the Terrace, watching the world go by and enjoying a beer or two. I didn’t have to describe much more, or tell them how happy I was, for they have all been here as well, and the feeling goes beyond words.
Bartime will be back for next fall semester, bringing you more adventures. All together now, let’s raise our glasses and toast our graduating seniors — I wish you the very best and hope to see you at the Terrace soon. Cheers to you, my readers, and have a great summer!