This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

FSU’s Student Union had just been built when I arrived at FSU my freshman year, opening its doors on Sept. 23, 2022. The building now houses a multitude of student events. Namely, Club Downunder (CDU), Bowling and Billiards, and The Trading Post; these are just some of the students’ frequent attraction stops, where they can create community amongst each other.

The Student Union represents a place of resilience and strength, where many student organizations, such as the Student Government Association (SGA), come together to keep students involved. Personally, the Student Union hasn’t only served as a safe haven for me when I need a space to collect myself for the week, but it’s also been a place where I’ve met some of my closest friends.

the history of fsu’s student union

​The first FSU Student Union, called the Student Center, was developed in 1952 and provided students with a gathering area until it was enlarged in 1964. The extension of the Student Center was dubbed the University Union, containing dining rooms, game rooms, a huge swimming pool, a barbershop, and more.

The University Union was originally a complex that contained the Moore Auditorium, Davis Building, Crenshaw Building, and the Union Pool. Each building contained different aspects of student life, similar to the Student Union held today, just separated into multiple spaces.

Specifically, the Davis Building, which was named after Helen Morris Davis, who graduated from the Florida State College for Women in 1929, included food services, the main ballrooms, and a nightclub named the “Rathskeller,” now known as Club Downunder.

The Moore Auditorium is still in use today and was originally named after Coyle E. Moore Jr., a cum laude graduate. Moore was president of the student body, a member of Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Gold K, Circle K, and was named in the FSU Hall of Fame. The building now serves as an auditorium in front of the new Student Union, but it used to serve as a movie theater and a live performance venue. 

In 2001, the Activities Building received a major renovation to its third floor, which shaped it into a Student Activities Center. It was a primary stop for students at the time for events and program planning. This building housed the Oglesby Union board, SGA Publications Center, and a multitude of student organizations at the time. The development of the new building brought these separated entities together and put them in a singular building that served as a student hub.

In addition to the many activities that occur at our current Student Union, now, every Wednesday on Legacy walk right outside the Student Union, Market Wednesday hosts a combination of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and market vendors. During the noon hour, live music or performances are often featured from fraternities or sororities. I’ve personally seen performances from a mariachi band and instances where people splashed each other, shout out to the Mexican American Student Association (MASA).

My Experience

This bid for connection amongst the student body gives students the chance to explore activities that they possibly wouldn’t have known about unless they saw them at the Student Union. FSU’s Student Union has even become a sanctuary to me, a place where I come to meet people and see upcoming events and activities.

I’ve had the opportunity to attend drag shows at CDU, which serves as the primary spot that hosts a multitude of signature events, including concerts from CupcakKe and Binki. As a freshman at FSU, I joined a Freshman Interest Group (FIG), and every week, a group of my classmates and I would meet at the Student Union to eat dinner and update one another, sharing chisme, if you will.

We called these our Union chats, and they soon became the highlight of my week. These Union chats turned into hangouts outside of class, and now these same FIG members are some of my closest friends today.

During the past four years at FSU (I can’t believe I’m a senior already), the Student Union has become a signature aspect of my experience. Every time I want to study, meet with friends, or explore upcoming activities on campus, my first stop is always the Student Union, aka my sanctuary, and I hope it can be yours, too.

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