Student Unions

UW–Madison has two student unions. Memorial Union, which sits on the shores of Lake Mendota, offers a variety of social and educational activities, and features the Memorial Union Terrace, one of the most beloved and historic destinations on UW–Madison’s campus. Union South, located on West Dayton and Randall Avenue, features a bowling alley, climbing wall, movie theater, shops and restaurants, and plenty of room to study alone or in a group.

Memorial Union

The Memorial Union is pictured with blooming spring flowers in the late afternoon sun. — Memorial Union in Spring

Visitors pose for pictures with an inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty on frozen and snow-covered Lake Mendota near the shoreline of the Memorial Union Terrace. — An inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota draws an annual crowd.

Visitors enjoy the Memorial Union Terrace on a partly sunny day. — Memorial Union Terrace.

Two young men caught mid-air as they flip off the pier into Lake Mendota in summertime. — Students enjoy a summertime flip off the pier into Lake Mendota.

Visitors of the Rathskellar enjoy a guitarist singing on the stage at the Memorial Union — Open mic night at the Memorial Union's Rathskellar.

Students line the pier with their dangling feet at the Memorial Union's Terrace. — The pier at the Memorial Union Terrace.

Badger fans cheer in excitement at Der Rathskeller inside the Memorial Union — Badger fans cheer in excitement at the Rathskeller when the men's basketball team defeated Kentucky in the 2015 NCAA Final Four game.

Pedestrians walk past the exterior of the Memorial Union — Memorial Union.

Students and other UW-Madison community members enjoy the amenities of the 1st floor east wing of the newly renovated Memorial Union — Dining facilities at the Memorial Union.

Students and other UW-Madison community members enjoy the amenities of the 1st floor east wing of the newly renovated Memorial Union — A coffee shop at the Memorial Union.

Students and other UW-Madison community members enjoy the amenities of the 1st floor east wing of the newly renovated Memorial Union — Badger Market at the Memorial Union.

People congregate at the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during a late spring afternoon — Memorial Union Terrace.

Retractable seating is pictured in the performance area of the Wisconsin Union Theater's Fredric March Play Circle during a tour of the newly renovated west wing of the Memorial Union — Wisconsin Union Theater's Fredric March Play Circle.

A tour of the renovated Wheelhouse Studios, located in the Memorial Uniuon. — Wheelhouse Studios conducts craft workshop programming.

Visitors to the Memorial Union Terrace enjoy a warm spring day on the shore of Lake Mendota — The Red Gym and the Memorial Union Terrace.

On June 27, 2019, the Pride Flag is displayed outside of Memorial Union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and recognize LGBTQ+ rights. — Memorial Union entrance.

People stand on a Memorial Union Terrace pier and watch the sun set over Lake Mendota following a passing summer thunderstorm at University of Wisconsin-Madison — Pier on Lake Mendota.

People relax in a recently-renovated section of seating at the Memorial Union Terrace along Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and watch the 1978 movie "National Lampoon's Animal House" as dusk falls to a summer night on June 27, 2016. — Lakeside Cinema is a summer mainstay at the Memorial Union Terrace.

People gather and socialize in a recently-renovated section of seating at the Memorial Union Terrace — Live music is a regular feature of the Memorial Union Terrace.

As dusk falls to night, people order food and drinks at The Brat Stand in a recently-renovated section of the Memorial Union Terrace — The Brat Stand at the Memorial Union Terrace.

People line the Memorial Union Terrace and shoreline piers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and take in the view of Lake Mendota as the post-sunset sky falls from dusk to nighttime during a summer evening — Memorial Union Terrace.

Students from a Wisconsin School of Business class called "Leadership, Ethics, Authenticity and Development (LEAD)" hand-bind paper journals for prisoners as part of a Just Mercy Printmaking Project at Wheelhouse Studios in the Memorial Union — A printmaking project at Wheelhouse Studios in Memorial Union.

Spectators watch skiers and snowboarders compete during the 11th annual Rail Jam, hosted by the Hoofers Ski and Snowboard Club, at the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during winter on Feb. 8, 2020 — Spectators watch skiers and snowboarders compete during the 11th annual Rail Jam, hosted by the Hoofers Ski and Snowboard Club.

Fans attending a live-broadcast watch party at the Memorial Union Rathskeller at the University of Wisconsin-Madison cheer as USA player Rose Lavelle, a former Wisconsin Badger soccer athlete and UW-Madison alumnae, scores a goal against the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup final on July 7, 2019. — Fans attending a live-broadcast watch party at the Memorial Union Rathskeller cheer as USA player Rose Lavelle, a former Wisconsin Badger soccer athlete and UW alumnae, scores a goal against the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup final on July 7, 2019.

Sunbathers cover the pier that extends into Lake Mendota on a hot summer day.

Students share a table and work on their laptops on the Memorial Union Terrace — Students share a table and work on their laptops on the Memorial Union Terrace.

Visitors enjoying the Memorial Union Terrace.

Union South

Members of the UW Spirit Squad lead Badger fans in a cheer as the UW Marching Band arrives to perform during a Badger Bash event held in The Plaza at Union South — Members of the UW Spirit Squad lead Badger fans in a cheer as the UW Marching Band arrives to perform during a Badger Bash event held at Union South.

Corey Pompey, associate director of bands and director of the Marching Band at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducts the band during the Badger Bash pregame tailgate at Union South — Corey Pompey, Marching Band leader at the UW–Madison, conducts the band during the Badger Bash pregame tailgate at Union South.

UW-Madison student Mandine Bharj (right) looks over an assortment of peppers from from a local vendor during the first Campus Farmer's Market on the north lawn of Union South — A UW student looks over an assortment of peppers from from a local vendor during the first Campus Farmer's Market on the north lawn of Union South.

On April 6, 2015, Badger fans fill to capacity the 350-seat Marquee Theater at Union South at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and cheer in excitement as they watch Wisconsin men's basketball team take on Duke in a televised NCAA Final Four Championship tournament game — Badger fans fill to capacity the 350-seat Marquee Theater at Union South and cheer in excitement as they watch Wisconsin men's basketball team take on Duke in a televised NCAA Final Four Championship tournament game.

A series of talks, titled RED Talks, are present by UW faculty and staff during the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) Day On Campus event held in Varsity Hall in Union South — A series of talks, titled RED Talks, are present by UW faculty and staff during the Office of Corporate Relations Day On Campus event held in Varsity Hall in Union South.

Working with the nighttime aid of smartphone illumination, students carve pumpkins during a pre-Halloween event held outside Union South — Working with the nighttime aid of smartphone illumination, students carve pumpkins during a pre-Halloween event held outside Union South.

Students dance to a concert by rapper Hoodie Allen during the Revelry Music and Arts Festival at Union South's The Plaza — Students dance to a concert by rapper Hoodie Allen during the Revelry Music and Arts Festival at Union South.

Incoming first-year undergraduates play billiards and socialize during a Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) game night event at Union South's The Sett a — Incoming first-year undergraduates play billiards and socialize during a Student Orientation, Advising and Registration game night event at Union South's The Sett.

Incoming first-year undergraduates scale a rock-climbing wall and socialize during a Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) game night event at Union South's The Sett — Incoming first-year undergraduates scale a rock-climbing wall and socialize during a Student Orientation, Advising and Registration game night event at Union South's The Sett.

The summer sun shines as people enjoy sitting outdoors at The Plaza at the Union South — The summer sun shines as people enjoy sitting outdoors at The Plaza at the Union South.

A variety of dining options -- including Urban Slice, Harvest Grains and Ginger Root -- in the food-court area of Union South — A variety of dining options -- including Urban Slice, Harvest Grains and Ginger Root -- in the food-court area of Union South.

The main performance stage of The Sett in the new Union South at — The main performance stage of The Sett in Union South.

Nighttime falls over the Union South Building — Nighttime falls over the Union South.

Spotlights shine on the exterior of Union South as people arrive for the Wisconsin Union Sunburst Festival — Spotlights shine on the exterior of Union South as people arrive for the Wisconsin Union Sunburst Festival.

Students -- many with laptop computers -- study and socialize in the Sun Garden at Union South — Students study and socialize in the Sun Garden at Union South.

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