The current Union stands as a centerpiece on Washburn’s campus. Countless students pass through its halls daily—heading to class, stopping by the corner store or walking to the Living Learning Center. Others study or work in basement offices for WSGA, Student Media or the Bookstore. And that’s about it. For such a pivotal structure in a prime location with a large amount of space, the Union is, for most students, simply a building they pass through on the way to class, the Rec or other destinations. 

Certainly, the Union hosts some events, usually in the fall and occasionally brings in speakers for students and the broader community. However, many of its rooms are occupied by offices that students rarely visit. 

The ICard Office, for instance, sits in a prime spot near the main entrance but is typically used only once during a student’s time at Washburn. The Office of Student Involvement and Development, when there’s more than just a secretary present, occupies a similar location while seeing little daily traffic. The Ichabod shop, though more frequently used, is often visited just twice a year for books despite taking up the largest space in the building. As it stands, much of the Union sees limited student use. 

Strangely, this does not appear to have been the building’s original intent. Over the past few weeks, several students and I dug into the archives and discovered a trove of documents about what was then called the “Student Union Memorial.” Here are a few excerpts from that time: 

 In an article about the project, student concerns were front and center: 

“Student Organizations are literally jammed with students. This building would make it possible for all of these organizations to be placed in the same building, where they should be.” 

In a Washburn University Bulletin describing the building after its construction: 

“Probably the most popular spot is the Ichabod room on the first floor. Students and faculty members are found in this room every day exchanging ideas ranging from football and basketball strategy to Greek philosophy. Although the new Memorial Union was designed primarily for students on the campus, it will also be open for alumni reunions, dinners and parties.” 

And in a brochure promoting the project: 

“Usefulness—community service—however you put it, is the keynote of the project. The War Memorial we are building will do more than fittingly honor our fighting men and service women. It will provide a social, civic and cultural center which the youth of many generations to come will enjoy and appreciate.” 

Does this sound like today’s Union? To me and to many students I’ve spoken with, absolutely not. These documents, verified by the University Archivist, portray a Student Union Memorial that seems to have vanished. They also reveal that students themselves voted to raise semester tuition by $3, roughly $50 today, adjusted for inflation, to help fund its construction. In other words, the Union was built not only for students, but by students. 

We could spend time assigning blame for how things changed, but a more productive approach is to ask: what should the Union become? What would a future Union look like? 

In my view, a future Union should put students front and center. It should not be just a place to pass through or quietly study, it should be a place to gather, relax and connect. Kansas State’s Union, for example, has a bowling alley. Other universities offer movie theaters, bars or pool tables. While a bowling alley may be unrealistic, we could certainly centralize recreational spaces like pool tables, convert underused offices into rentable mini-theaters, or explore hosting more social events. These kinds of changes would meaningfully strengthen student life, camaraderie and campus culture. 

Some may object, noting that the Union was funded in large part by World War II veterans and is meant to serve as a memorial. While that contribution is undeniable, the idea that it is solely a “Memorial Union” is historically inaccurate. Contemporary sources consistently describe it as a Student Union Memorial—intended to serve both roles. And just as the building has lost much of its “student” function, it has also lost much of its “memorial” purpose. Today, the memorial aspect is largely reduced to a plaque near the dining area. A former veterans’ lounge has been replaced by office space. Put simply, the Union today functions as neither a true student union nor a meaningful memorial. 

I encourage anyone reading this to explore the archived documents. They paint a vivid, optimistic picture of what the Union once was—and what it could be again. Transforming the current building into a future Union will take effort, but if the right people hear students’ voices, we can reclaim a space that truly serves its original vision: “a social, civic, and cultural center which the youth of many generations to come will enjoy and appreciate.” 

Edited by Arohi Rai and Bidhya Sapkota