Associated Students of Madison: A History of Student Governance and Activism
The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison boasts a long and complex history, marked by student governance, activism, and engagement with the university's past and present. From its roots in the early 20th century to its contemporary role, ASM has been a significant force in shaping the student experience and advocating for student interests.
Early Foundations of Student Life and Governance
In the early years of the University of Wisconsin in the 1850s, student life was centered around North Hall, where students lived alongside professors and their families. However, as the university expanded, this close-knit model faded, and students became divided by their fields of study. The growth in enrollment outpaced dormitory space, leading many students to live off-campus. Fraternities and sororities emerged in the 1880s, often catering to students from wealthier families, which further fragmented the student body along socioeconomic lines.
Extracurricular activities such as debate clubs, literary societies, drama, music, baseball, and later football, helped to bridge these divisions, bringing students from different backgrounds together. Simultaneously, the number of saloons in Madison was increasing, presenting a different kind of social space for students.
Around 1900, the concept of a college student union began to gain traction, inspired by similar institutions in England. This idea proposed a central gathering place for students from all disciplines and backgrounds to engage in extracurricular activities and socialize under the university's guidance.
In 1904, President Van Hise advocated for establishing a college union at the UW, emphasizing its importance in developing well-rounded individuals. He envisioned a "commodious and beautiful building" where students could relax, enjoy refreshments, engage in games, and socialize, fostering their ability to interact with others and understand different perspectives.
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The first iteration of the Union emerged in 1907 when the Iron Cross, a men's senior honor society, leased the main floor of the YMCA on Langdon Street to create a men's club. This space offered a reading room, billiards, and cigars, and hosted social events, dances, variety shows, and gatherings between faculty and students. While these events were generally successful in promoting camaraderie, the YMCA eventually reclaimed its space in 1916.
The Wisconsin Memorial Union: A Hub for Student Life
After failing to secure state funding for a dedicated union building, proponents turned to private fundraising, led by Walter J. Kohler Sr., who aimed to address the erosion of camaraderie caused by the university's growing enrollment. The union was also conceived as a memorial to honor students and faculty who had died in World War I. This fundraising effort marked the first attempt to finance a UW building with private funds.
The fundraising campaign involved appeals to wealthy donors, alumni, and the student body. Daily Cardinal editor Porter Butts actively promoted the union in his articles, and classes competed against each other in raising funds. The city and faculty also contributed. Prior to construction, the Memorial Union Building Committee visited college unions at other universities, drawing inspiration from Hart House in Toronto, which featured lounge rooms, a dining hall, gymnasium, theater, and other amenities.
The exterior of the main wing was designed by University Architect Arthur Peabody and/or Frank Moulton in a Neoclassical/Beaux Arts style, complementing the campus's early buildings and reflecting its role as a memorial. Construction began in 1926, led by Jacob Pfeffer of Duluth. However, the project faced labor disputes when union workers protested the use of non-union labor. The conflict escalated, resulting in violence and property damage.
Despite these challenges, the "Wisconsin Memorial Union" opened on October 5, 1928. The facility was operated by the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization. The initial building included the Central Core and the Commons Wing, housing various amenities such as the Rathskeller, billiards room, trophy hall, barbershop, Memorial Hall, lounges, a library, an art gallery, a cafeteria, and dining rooms. Chicago decorator Leon Pescheret designed the interior, and German immigrant artist Eugene Hausler painted frescoes in the Rathskeller.
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The Memorial Union Terrace, designed by Charlotte Peabody, provided an outdoor recreation area on the shore of Lake Mendota. The Terrace quickly became a popular spot for students and residents to socialize.
Porter Butts, who had supported the Union as a student and fundraiser, was appointed as the first Director of the Wisconsin Union in 1928. Under his leadership, the Union became a central hub for student life, hosting social gatherings, dances, and other events.
Expansion and Evolution
In 1933, a survey of students and stakeholders revealed a strong desire for a theater. In 1935, the New Deal Public Works Administration provided funding for a theater wing, which opened in 1939. The theater wing included the main theater and the smaller Play Circle theater, further enhancing the Union's role as a center for cultural and social activities.
During World War II, the Union extended membership to military trainees, serving thousands of meals daily. After the war, the Union experienced a surge in traffic, leading to wear and tear that necessitated ongoing maintenance and renovations.
In 1935, the Regents designated the Wisconsin Union as the UW's Division of Social Education, aiming to integrate informal student and faculty interactions into the educational experience.
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Modernization and Continued Significance
In 2005, a referendum to build a new Union South and renovate Memorial Union failed, but a subsequent referendum in 2006 approved the project. Construction began in 2012 and concluded in 2017, involving renovations to the west wing, the central core, and the east wings, as well as the creation of Alumni Park.
The Memorial Union is nationally recognized for its significance in the American college union movement, serving as a groundbreaking institution that catered to the entire university community. It is also recognized for its association with Porter Butts, who guided the Union for four decades and became a prominent leader in the college union movement.
Today, the Memorial Union continues to be a vital part of the UW-Madison campus, offering a wide range of programs, services, and spaces for students, faculty, alumni, and visitors.
Student Activism and the Associated Students of Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a long and storied tradition of student activism. The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) plays a central role in representing student interests and advocating for change on campus.
Early Protests and the TAA
In 1967, anti-military recruitment protests were met with violence, highlighting the tensions of the era. During UW-Madison's Black Student Strike in 1969, a bill was introduced to eliminate tuition remission for out-of-state graduate students with assistantships. The Teaching Assistants' Association (TAA) gained prominence during this period.
When the TAA voted to strike in 1970, the university initially deemed it illegal and ceased bargaining. However, the TAA continued to advocate for the rights of teaching assistants and played a crucial role in shaping the university's policies.
Contemporary Activism and ASM's Role
ASM continues to be involved in various issues, including free speech, protest policies, and social justice. In recent years, ASM has addressed issues such as campus history, diversity, and inclusion.
In one instance, student group Anticolonial Scientists released a statement on a particular matter. Mecha de UW-Madison, a Latine student organization, demanded that UW-Madison remove protest guidelines that restrict free speech. ASM supported students' right to peacefully protest.
ASM also plays a role in the Public History Project, which examines the university's history of marginalization and discrimination. The Public History Project's museum exhibition, "Sifting and Reckoning: UW-Madison's History of Exclusion and Resistance," was a significant event on campus, drawing a large audience and sparking important conversations.
The Public History Project and the Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
Chancellor Emerita Blank commissioned the Public History Project in 2019 to investigate the history of two UW-Madison student organizations in the early 1920s that bore the name of the Ku Klux Klan. The project has since expanded to explore other aspects of the university's history, including exclusion and resistance.
The Public History Project has been led by Kacie Lucchini Butcher, a public historian and museum curator, and Taylor L. Bailey, who serves as assistant director. The project's work has been incorporated into courses across campus, connecting students with events that happened on their own campus.
The university has established the Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History to continue the work of the Public History Project. The center will be housed within the Division for Teaching and Learning and will serve as a resource for historical and academic research.
The United States National Student Association (NSA)
The University of Wisconsin-Madison also played a role in the founding of the United States National Student Association (NSA). The NSA was founded on the UW-Madison campus at a Constitutional Convention held at the Memorial Union on Sept. 7, 1947.
The new center will not be limited to the history of the NSA. The center also is looking to UW-Madison’s faculty and staff to help the students discover their history by creating new curriculum and courses.
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