UA News

The soon-to-be-completed Student Union Memorial Center at the University of Arizona will have a week-long celebration in February to mark the end of construction.

Throughout the week there will be numerous activities, tours, food specials, daily giveaways, performances, entertainment and celebrations for students, staff and faculty at the Union and Bookstore. Each day has a specific theme, representing the values of the University of Arizona and the new Center. The theme days include celebration, involvement, heritage, memorial, diversity and community.

Some of the tentative plans for each theme day include:

• Involvement Day, Tuesday, Feb. 18, will feature art openings and student showcases, as well as new site dedications, entertainment and restaurant specials.
• Memorial Day, Wednesday, Feb. 19, will include numerous ceremonies that feature the components of the SUMC that memorialize veterans, the U.S.S. Arizona Bell dedication, a time capsule dedication and retro films and music.
• Diversity Day, Thursday, Feb. 20, will feature a global food festival, International music and dance, flags of nations showcase, worldwide cultural displays and foreign films.
• Heritage Day, Friday, Feb. 21, will feature speakers and events that focus on the traditions and history of the University, Mexican traditional music and food, an American Indian dedication, and local rituals.
• Saturday, Feb. 22, Community Day, is the grand finale of the week-long celebration. A campus community gathering, family festival, and children's activities are some of the many events planned for Saturday.

"Students, community members and various departments on campus are involved in preparing a week-long celebration to showcase what the University's new Union and Bookstore have to offer," said Dan Adams, Director of the Arizona Student Unions. "After some three years of construction, the new SUMC will be a great asset to the entire community."

The new Student Union Memorial Center will be among the largest student unions in the country at 405,000 square feet. Students, faculty and staff can interact in the numerous state-of-the-art venues, including retail opportunities, the bookstore, specialty restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, games center, a post office, copy center, grand ballroom, computer lab and much more. The SUMC, when completed will house the Arizona Student Unions, UA Bookstore, ASUA (student government), the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (Greek Life, Commuter Students, Leadership Programs, and Campus Activities), Shared Governance and Career Services.

"Our new Student Union Memorial Center is able to incorporate dining, retail, involvement, entertainment, and student services all under one roof," says Nick Adamakis, marketing director for the Arizona Student Unions. "The programs and services available to UA students are some of the most comprehensive in the country."

The University community is invited to come celebrate the opening of the SUMC.