MLK Student Union: A Hub of History, Services, and Community Engagement

The Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Student Union serves as a central hub for students, faculty, and staff, offering a wide array of services, programs, and resources. More than just a building, it embodies a commitment to community, inclusion, and diversity, reflecting the values championed by its namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This article explores the history, evolution, and diverse offerings of the MLK Student Union, highlighting its role in fostering a vibrant campus environment.

Honoring a Legacy: Martin Luther King Jr.

The MLK Student Union stands as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an American clergyman, sociologist, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. The Center for Inclusive Excellence, the Black Student Union, and the William G. and Rose M. Mays lectureship fund events to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King.

Several institutions organize events commemorating Dr. King's birthday. For example, the University of Evansville's Martin Luther King, Jr. Program Committee plans an appropriate celebration during the academic year to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. The Committee plans one year in advance to obtain suitable speakers and schedule activities. The committee consists of the Senior Diversity Officer, three faculty appointed by the Faculty Senate; two students, one of whom will be from the minoritized student population, appointed by the President of the Student Government Association; the University Chaplain or designee; an Associate Dean of Students, and community representation as deemed by the deed of the gift from the Mays.

The University of Evansville also presents awards at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Lectureship to recognize and affirm those who have made significant contributions in the areas of race relations, justice, and/or human rights. The Rising Star award recognizes an emerging leader who has made significant contributions to the Evansville community, who demonstrates leadership potential, and whose record reflects the life and civil service of Dr. Martin Luther King.

A Timeline of Growth and Transformation

The need for a central gathering place for students has long been recognized by universities. The University of Michigan's Michigan Union was envisioned as an “all-inclusive organization” to promote feelings of unity for men on campus. The original Michigan Union had a bowling alley, barbershop, a billiards room, swimming pool and lodging for visiting alumni. It also had a student eatery, dining rooms, an assembly room and committee rooms.

Read also: Understanding Student Unions

Similarly, the University of Northern Iowa recognized the need for a student union. During the early 1960s, the school needed to concentrate its efforts and its funding on building dormitories to meet the upcoming surge in the enrollment of Baby Boomers. Funding for the Union would come from the same source as funding for dormitory construction. In May 1963, Dean Bender announced that he hoped that construction of a significant addition to the Commons would begin in 1964. The Commons would be expanded on three sides--east, south, and west--and would double in size. However, there would not be a bookstore, bowling alley, or auditorium. The newly-appointed Director of the Union, Dale Brostrom, would oversee the project.

In January 1964, the Board of Regents split the project into two parts: remodeling the Commons and constructing a new Union. The new Union had a $1.2 million budget to be funded by student fees; its tentative site was west of the Campanile. In an interview with the student newspaper, the College Eye, in July 1964, Dale Brostrom said that plans could not be completed until a final site was selected.

In November 1964, with a site still to be determined, the Regents approved a $1.3 million budget for the "first phase" of a new Union. The project was scheduled for completion sometime in the 1966-1967 school year. At that meeting, President Maucker suggested that the Union be built in the center of campus just east of the Rod Library. In February 1965, the Union Policy Board recommended that the Union be built just a bit north of where it now stands but still in the center of the older part of campus.

Controversy raged for a good part of the fall 1965 semester with faculty and students alike stating their views in strong, clear terms, but the site selection did not change. In February 1966, the Regents increased the Union construction budget to $1.5 million to accommodate both increased enrollment and building costs, with plans to begin construction in summer 1966. By spring 1966, crews were drilling wells for the new building's air conditioning system. By September 1966, the budget had risen to $1.8 million. The design of the new Union was in startling contrast to the staid and traditional red brick and limestone architecture of most campus buildings at that time, yet that drew surprisingly little comment on campus.

In March 1967, the Regents approved contracts for Union construction with a new budget of $1.98 million. Site grading and early phases of construction began in April 1967. Officials hoped the Union would be complete by September 1968. As work neared completion in March 1969, the Union Policy Board accepted a proposal from the African-American Society to take special responsibility for the Keyhole Lounge, a "small, informal, double-decked jukebox lounge" in the new Union. This area was planned to be an African-American cultural center.

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Opening and Early Years

President Maucker opened the new Union for use on April 7, 1969. A Grand Opening Week began the next week. The celebration featured a dedication ceremony as well as dances, a billiards tournament, a style show, an ice cream social, folk singing, tours, an appearance by well-known writer Vance Packard, and an art exhibition.

When it opened, the Union contained many useful and functional facilities featured against a background of strikingly modern architectural designs. It included large open spaces as well as smaller spaces designed for special purposes. There was a meditation room, a game room, a multi-purpose room, an information center, a snack bar, and the Royal Oak Dining Room. The Union also housed the offices of the Northern Iowan, the Old Gold yearbook, the literary magazine Seven, student government, Union administration, and a radio station.

Renaming and Evolution

In March 1974, it was officially renamed the J. W. Citation: Dr. J.W. On July 9, 1969, the university dedicated the Colombian Room, adjacent to the Hemisphere Lounge, to honor UNI's exchange relationship with the Universidad Pedagogica Nacional in Bogata, Colombia. A handwoven rug, purchased by President Maucker in Colombia in 1967, was hung on the wall of that room. Students and faculty also tried to decide on the proper use of the Meditation Room located just north of the Hemisphere Lounge. The Meditation Room disappeared during one of the Union’s renovations.

The Union Craft Shop opened in 1972 and proved popular among students and some faculty. In a move that seems decidedly odd by today's standards UNI officials, noting the lower legal drinking age of 19, recommended the sale of beer in the Union in the spring of 1972. The Regents approved the recommendation in July 1972 and Union Director John Ketter worked on ways to incorporate the change into Union services. The Union continued to sell beer until November 1986 when the University decided not to renew its beer and wine license.

Pinball games, introduced in 1974, proved very popular. That same year the Union opened the Penny Lane Sweet Shop, which sold penny candies and other sweets. The Union also offered check-cashing and photocopy service. At that same time, the governance structure of the Union changed. Initially, the Union operated under a two-board system to provide recommendations to the Union administration. The Union Activities Board was responsible for programming recommendations while the Union Policy Board was responsible for administrative recommendations. The Union Activities Board became largely defunct in the spring of 1974.

Read also: Student Union at Fresno State

Beginning in August 1975 the university contracted with Hardee's fast food company to provide food service in the Union. The university would receive about 13% of cash sales from the Hardee's operation. In 1976, the Union inaugurated its annual open house, known as FUNION. In January 1977, the Union added a new 4 X 5 foot "Video-Beam" television projector to the Keyhole Lounge. Also in 1977, in something of a campus pioneering effort, the Union set up a self-enforced non-smoking area in the northwest bay of the Coffee House. Cigarette sales ended in the Union in August 1991, and smoking was banned completely in the Union as of November 15, 1993.

Expansion and Modernization

In July 1978, the Union opened a small sundry store in the northwest corner of the upper level. By 1985, Union Director John Ketter reported that there serious plans were under development for an expansion and would also include major renovation of the building. In September 1986, the Regents authorized the selection of an architect for a 20,000 square foot Union expansion project, with a $1.9 million budget.

Finally, in September 1988, the Regents approved contracts for the revised project plan which now carried a $2 million budget. The new expansion opened on January 15, 1990. It featured a 2,745 square foot lobby area that would be used as an art and cultural exhibition site, a large room that could be divided into three …

UC Berkeley's MLK Jr. Student Union

At UC Berkeley, the UC Berkeley Student Union recognizes that UC Berkeley sits on the territory of xučyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people, the successors of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. We recognize that every member of the Berkeley community has, and continues to benefit from, the use and occupation of this land, since the institution’s founding in 1868. Consistent with our values of community, inclusion and diversity, we have a responsibility to acknowledge and make visible the university’s relationship to Native peoples.

The UC Berkeley Student Union, in partnership with student leaders, offers community-focused services and programs; providing opportunities for students to learn, grow, and live a balanced life. By the mid-1950’s it had become clear that the Stephens Hall complex was too small and antiquated for the student body. The Alumni Association had undertaken a study which proposed a new Student Union complex at Bancroft and Telegraph and, in the late 1950’s construction begun. 17 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s anti-Vietnam War speech on Sproul Plaza, our main building is renamed the “Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union.” The renaming was proposed by undergraduate Ronald Stevenson. The namesake building stands both as a reminder of Dr.

Graduate and undergraduate student leaders negotiate a groundbreaking agreement to rebuild the Student Union complex. It is agreed that revenue made in the MLK Jr. Building and in Eshleman Hall is shared to support student programs directly. The newly renovated MLK Jr. Building and Eshleman Hall open. The new buildings become the true heart of campus and provide a campus living room for students. Both integrate sustainable features including: natural cooling through automatic window movement, window coating to lessen glare and heat build up, a gray-water system for irrigation and restroom facilities, solar energy provided by photovoltaics, a white roof to reduce heat island effect, and a rain garden to capture storm runoff. Both buildings obtain LEED Gold certification.

Services and Programs

The MLK Student Union provides a wide range of services and programs designed to meet the diverse needs of the campus community. These offerings often include:

Dining Options: From quick snacks to full meals, the Union typically houses a variety of food vendors and dining areas. For example, the University of Michigan's Pierpont Commons opened in 1965, with limited resources, and began primarily as a place for the growing North Campus community to eat. In 2013, the Board of Regents approved the renovation of approximately 10,500 gross square feet within the Pierpont Commons Cafe. The space was renovated to create a new dining experience on North Campus. In addition to many infrastructure changes, the renovations included an expanded floor plan designed to provide more seating and study space for students, faculty and staff. In September, 2014, the Fireside Café, located within Pierpont Commons, celebrated its grand opening. The Fireside was the result of a six-month renovation project that transformed the 10,500-square-foot space from a 1960s diner into a state-of-the-art eating and common area. The renovation was made with sustainability in mind and included using recycled materials, installing low VOC flooring, and maximizing energy and maintenance efficiencies.
Meeting and Event Spaces: The Union offers various rooms and halls suitable for meetings, conferences, performances, and social gatherings.
Student Organization Offices: Many student organizations have office space within the Union, providing a central location for them to conduct their activities.
Recreational Facilities: Some Unions feature game rooms, bowling alleys, or other recreational facilities. The original Michigan Union had a bowling alley, barbershop, a billiards room, swimming pool and lodging for visiting alumni.
Retail Services: Stores selling books, stationery, and other supplies are often located in the Union. The Cal Student Store opens. Providing students a place to purchase their textbooks, stationery, and other materials, including coal!
Information and Support Services: Information desks, resource centers, and other support services are often available to assist students. The Student Union is bringing you the Safety and Wellness Resources page. Forgot your phone or laptop charger? You can check them out yourself with our self-service Recre towers, located on the 1st and 2nd floors of MLK Jr.
Craft and Art Spaces: We offer art classes for UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff, and the greater Bay Area community. CrafterDark is getting bigger and better! We’re hosting another weekly craft session every Sunday Night at Anchor House. Free crafting and art making.
Cultural Events: Looking to build team camaraderie? We offer crafting team-building workshops. Get ready to add a burst of color to your day and celebrate the Hindu Festival of Colors in a unique and fun way! Create a beautiful rangoli craft that will brighten up any room, indulge in some delicious treats while you’re at it, and enjoy a dance performance by Nazakat at Berkeley! 📍1st Floor of MLK Jr. “This event is open to all UC Berkeley community members, regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other protected class status. 📍1st Floor of MLK Jr.
Student Government: ASUC student government is founded.

Fostering Community and Inclusion

The MLK Student Union plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community and inclusion on campus.

Supporting Student Organizations

The Union provides a space for student organizations to thrive. For example, the Rollins Black Student Union (BSU) stands on five pillars: advocacy, service, awareness, friendship, and inclusion. In order to promote these values, the club often hosts speaking events where professors, local leaders, and other activists can help educate the Rollins community about issues related to race and culture. These events are open to all students, regardless of BSU affiliation.

BSU is really a space for students who identify as Black to come together and talk about current events, social justice issues, and different things in the Rollins community that affect people of color,” says psychology major and BSU president Carley Matthews ’22. “We welcome everyone, even if you don’t identify as Black or African American, and a big focus is finding ways to connect with the Rollins community and the community at large.”

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

The MLK Student Union often houses offices and programs dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. The Center for Inclusive Excellence, the Black Student Union, and the William G. and Rose M. Mays lectureship fund events to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King.

Creating a Welcoming Environment

The Union strives to create a welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their background or identity.

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