May 13, 2010
HUB remembers its past as it heads toward its future
They’ll be writing on the walls, dancing on the lawn and roller-skating on the ballroom’s hardwood floors in coming days to say goodbye to the Husky Student Union, the HUB, before its two-year remodel. The whole campus community is invited to come and help celebrate the end of an era.
It’s all part of the festivities whose name was borrowed from a classic REM song. In fact you can practically hear them singing: It’s the end of the HUB as we know it!
There will be music, speeches, tours, memories and food at retro prices Thursday and Friday, May 20 and 21, as the HUB — standing since 1949 — heads toward its date with destiny. The building will close its doors for a two-year remodeling on July 1. Most of the HUB offices will move to temporary digs in Condon Hall during the move, and will be open there by June 14.
Lincoln Johnson, HUB director, was quick to give the UW student leaders credit for seeing what the center could become for future generations of students.
“This truly started off as a hallway conversation with ASUW leaders in the fall of 2005 or January of 2006,” he said. “I don’t think any of us thought for certain we’d end up with a project of this scope. It’s due to their leadership — they saw a vision of what the building could be and how students could benefit.”
Johnson said people sometimes assume that the HUB remodel resulted from decision-making from administrators alone, “but it was much more organic than that, and of course the students were involved every step of the way.”
Jake Faleschini, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), was among many students involved in that process. “It’s going to be such an amazing place for students to come to gather once it’s done,” he said. “We’ve spent so much time trying to build this infrastructure for future generations.” He said the renewed building and its amenities will offer students “building blocks they’ll be able to use to better their lives.”
HUB Reflection Wall: The celebration got kicked off with the HUB Reflection Wall, where students have been writing HUB-related memories and adding those sent in online by alumni. There must be lots of good HUB memories, because Johnson said that wall is already chock full of writing.
They’ll take photos to preserve the memories, and then at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, students and special guests will be invited to don hardhats and goggles and (where’s Pink Floyd when you need them?) tear that wall down. They’re calling it Club the Hub.
Retro food prices: UW Housing & Food Services will reel back the years by offering 1949-themed specials during their regular hours for the two-day HUB closing ceremony. Pickles & Fries will serve silver dollar burgers and fries for only 49 cents as well as Whopper milkshakes. (Silver dollar burgers and Whoppers candy were introduced in 1949.) Pagliacci will offer pizza for $1.49 a slice, Arriba will be serving 49-cent soft tacos; and Firecracker will be serving Loco Moco, a Hawaiian dish popularized in 1949, for $1.49.
Here are events for Thursday, May 20:
HUB Lawnapalooza: From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the HUB lawn will fill with live music, food and entertainment. This is an annual event.
HUB Commemorative Celebration: From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the HUB’s first floor lounge. UW Regent Bill Gates Sr. — who was a student here when the HUB opened in 1949 — and former ASUW President Mike Egan will join former and current student leaders for this celebrative gathering. Plans for the new HUB will be shared and the Husky Marching Band is expected to march in for an appearance.
Ballroom Roller Jam: Have you ever wanted to roller-skate on a fine hardwood floor? You’ve never been allowed, but from 6 to 9:30 p.m., Rainy Dawg Radio will spin tunes while skaters are not only allowed but encouraged to glide around the ballroom.
And then on Friday, May 21, the Spring ASUW and GPSS Concert will be held from 3 p.m. to dusk. The concert will feature Grammy award-winning hip hop artist, actor and businessman Common and special guests. It’s on the HUB lawn and all are invited.
Leyla Salmassi, manager of service operations for the HUB, seemed to speak for all at the student center in expressing her excitement over the remodel, despite the challenges of the two-year construction process.
“The remodel is close to all of our hearts because we live here,” she said. “I have worked in the HUB for over 20 years and it’s home away from home, really, for us. We’ve all had some level of contribution to this process. We’ve all been very excited about it. We’re excited about an improved building that will serve the campus better, handle events better and be better able to house the resources the students and the UW community rely on.”
So yes, it’s the end of the HUB as they know it — and, like REM said, they feel fine.
