student union
A students' union or student union, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizatio ...
in the world,About Us the Oklahoma State University Student Union is a
student activity center
A student center (or student centre) is a type of building found on university and some secondary school, high school campuses. In the United States, such a building may also be called a student union, student commons, or union. The term "student ...
for meetings, conferences, meals, recreation, and shopping for students and alumni on the campus of
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...
in
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is the tenth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, Payne County. It is located in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. Route 177#Oklahoma, U.S. Route 177 and Oklahoma S ...
.
Overview
Constructed in 1950, the Student Union serves as one of the largest and most comprehensive unions in the world. The Student Union was the first union in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
to be completely funded by self-liquidating bonds. Five major expansions of the Union took place in 1960, 1965, 2000, 2012 and 2016 with an adjacent parking garage built in 1970.
The Student Union was closed during the 2010 - 2011 academic school year for renovation; with the majority of student services relocated to several places around campus like the Classroom Building basement or the "UToo" temporary building.
The Union contains the modern 81-room Atherton Hotel at OSU (formerly known simply as the Student Union Hotel), maintained by the Oklahoma State School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration. The Atherton is named for Oklahoma State alum Bill Atherton and serves as a living classroom for Hotel and Restaurant Administration students while providing luxury boutique hotel services for guests.
The Union is also home to the luxurious Ranchers Club restaurant, a 550-seat theater, art exhibits, lounges, meeting rooms, an extensive food court, bookstores, the OSU Student Store, a recreation center, post office, travel agency, athletic ticket office, and multiple university offices. Many student organizations, including the Student Union Activities Board, are centered at the Union.