A pandemic will not take away the food, events, and community that the Union provides to its students and faculty; only minor aspects will be altered in the fall semester.
Jeremy Davis, the director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, and his colleagues have been examining a plan to reopen the Union since May. There will be some changes to the Union due to COVID-19, but the space will remain a community environment for students and faculty.
“Tabling will be temporarily suspended to provide adequate distancing and discourage gatherings in the most trafficked part of the building,” said Davis.
“There will be a greater emphasis on marketing student organizations, including fraternity and sororities, through other methods. Guidance and support will be provided by the Office of Student Organizations and Entertainment. Fraternity and Sorority Life will be advising chapters on how to conduct member recruitment in this new environment. Additionally, student organizations can reserve table space on Simpson’s Plaza outside the Union entrance through Central Scheduling. This alternate location in Simpson’s Plaza provides greater social distancing for marketing.”
There will also be greater cleaning throughout the Union, especially in areas that are constantly being touched. There will be a modification to the Union hours so it will not be open until midnight per usual in order to allow further cleaning late at night in preparation for the next day. The furniture will be rearranged, and some will be removed in order to enable social distancing.
There will also be new capacity limits set in place, depending on the event type in the Union. There will be personal protection equipment such as sneeze barriers at desks or serving counters and hand sanitizers throughout the building. There are also some considerations about traffic flow direction to be guided via floor markers to provide social distancing. Lastly, there will be much communication via signs throughout and outside the Union, informing individuals to apply their face masks, social distance, and wash their hands frequently.
Overall, the Union will have the same purpose on campus with minor alterations. Food will still be provided, but cash will no longer be accepted. An app is possibly used to order foods from campus providers such as Panda Express instead of ordering in line per usual. New locations will be provided for Greek life and other organizations or fundraisers to advertise themselves to the campus community.
The Wyoming Union has been on campus since 1939, with gradual additions and renovations applied. Students and faculty have enjoyed the food, events, and community provided by the Union for years.
“I actually stayed in Laramie and would take walks around campus during the time we had online classes this last semester,” stated senior Allee Szewczyk. “I missed the Union whenever I would walk by because that is always where I could walk into and know I could socialize. With restrictions probably being set in place this next semester, I am thankful they are concerned for our safety. Still, I also worry the restrictions will keep me from the aspects of the Union I enjoyed the most.”
The University understands how important the Union building is to campus life. They also understand the need to provide safe locations for students and faculty during this pandemic. Therefore, they are working hard to determine a healthy medium to offer both for the campus.
“Absolutely, students will still be able to socialize in the Wyoming Union,” stated Davis. “COVID-19 may be altering how we interact, but the need for connection still exists and is more important than ever. Spaces and services will be altered to create smaller and meaningful gatherings among students. The historical Wyoming Union is still the heart of the UW campus.”
