Talley Student Union: A Hub of History and Services at NC State
Talley Student Union stands as the vibrant heart of North Carolina State University, a place where students, faculty, and staff converge to engage in campus life. From its historical roots to its modern amenities, Talley has evolved to meet the changing needs of the NC State community.
The Genesis of a College Union Idea
The concept of a college union dates back to the late 1800s, drawing inspiration from student organizations and debating societies in the United States, as well as the traditions of Oxford and Cambridge in the early 1800s. Before the construction of the first college union building in 1896 at the University of Pennsylvania, there was the college union idea. It was not just a building but also an organization of individuals enhancing campus life and building community. This idea emphasizes the importance of an organization of individuals working together to enhance campus life and build community. The essence of a college union lies not in its physical structure, but in the union organization itself.
At NC State, this vision took shape with the Erdahl-Cloyd Student Union, the university's first dedicated student space. According to the 1953 Agromeck, "The College Union idea has now been with us for almost two years. It did not wait for its new home, but it is anxiously awaiting its completion. With its appearance has emerged a more varied and virile leisure-time program at our Alma Mater. The committee members hope that each year the College Union idea will be a growing significant and meaningful force for a richer, fuller social and cultural life for our students.” Named after Gerald Erdahl, the first director of the college union, and Dean Edward Cloyd, the previous Director of Students, the Erdahl-Cloyd Union was completed in 1954. Cloyd hired Erdahl to help create a space for students, staff and faculty to interact with each other outside of the classroom setting. This building, completed in 1954, provided a space for students, staff, and faculty to interact outside the classroom. It was eventually remodeled and now forms the west wing of the D. H. Hill Jr. Library.
From University Student Center to Talley Student Union
As student enrollment surged in the wake of State College becoming NC State University in 1965, the need for expanded student activity space became apparent. The Erdahl-Cloyd Student Union could no longer adequately serve the growing campus population. Thus, the University Student Center was conceived.
The University Student Center opened in June 1972, marking a new chapter in student life at NC State. Henry Bowers, then director of the student center, expressed his satisfaction with the building's outcome. However, the journey to completion was not without its challenges. Construction delays, cost overruns, and funding questions plagued the project, resulting in an underwhelming debut for students returning for the 1972-73 academic year.
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Jim Pomeranz, an alumnus and former vice president of the student center, noted that the original center served the university's purposes more than the students' needs. It also lacked the convenience of the former student union to the D.H. Hill Jr. Library, the Brickyard and other amenities students had grown used to since its opening in 1954. Despite these shortcomings, the new center offered features that the old union didn't have, including the 813-seat Stewart Theatre, a large ballroom, and a central location for paying university fees.
Initially, the student center's design included a basement tavern that would have sold beer, but changes in state law prohibiting alcohol sales on state property prevented its realization. Financial difficulties also arose, with the center facing a significant debt due to state-mandated salary increases and unexpected utility costs.
Food service played a crucial role in the new center, especially after the closure of Leazar Hall and Harris Cafeteria. The focus on feeding thousands of students daily led to the obsolescence of some spaces for their intended purposes, allowing for the creation of more areas for student activities and the arts program championed by Vice Chancellor of Student Life Banks Talley Jr.
Over the next four decades, the center became a beloved gathering place, hosting annual events like the Madrigal Dinner and the Pan-African Festival, as well as monthly blood drives and art sales. In 1995, the building was renamed Witherspoon Student Center in honor of Augustus Witherspoon, the second African American to earn a Ph.D. from NC State.
In 2013, the large campus green adjacent to Talley was renamed the Thomas H. Stafford Jr. Various campus departments, such as the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity and Division of Academic and Student Affairs, along with the Women’s Center, GLBT Center and the Center for Multicultural Affairs, anchored the upper floors.
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Banks C. Talley Jr.: A Legacy of Service
The current Talley Student Union bears the name of Banks C. Talley Jr., the first Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at NC State. Talley's career at the university spanned several decades, during which he held various positions, including assistant dean of students, coordinator and director of student activities, and dean of student affairs. He officially retired from NC State in 1984.
During his time at the university, students and faculty were not always enthusiastic about his decisions. In May 1983, Chancellor Bruce Poulton told Talley that members of Poulton’s Afro-American Advisory Council viewed the Division of Student Affairs as anti-black. Talley responded to this by sending a memo to all the university Vice Chancellors. Talley mentioned the news he received from Chancellor Poulton and that he thought the Division of Student Affairs had successfully worked with black students to create a more diverse and welcoming environment. Chancellor Poulton and Dean Talley talked about creating a new student orientation just for first year black students on campus because Poulton believed that it would help the students create a better community. Dean Talley believed that an additional new student orientation would cost the university more money and that it was not necessary.
Talley often had differing views than Dr. Augustus Witherspoon. Dr. Witherspoon was the second African American to earn a doctorate from NC State and the first to rise to full professorship in 1982. Dr. Witherspoon and Talley butted heads on the creation of the African-American Cultural Center as Talley believed that it was not necessary for the cultural center to be created. In a 1992 edition of the Nubian Message, NC State’s African American-run university newspaper, the newspaper portrayed Talley as an enraged white man not listening to minority students.
Talley's contributions to NC State were significant, and the naming of the student union in his honor recognizes his dedication to the university community.
A Modern Transformation
Recognizing the need to modernize and expand the student union, NC State embarked on a comprehensive renovation and expansion project from 2011 to 2015. Duda Paine Architects led the redesign, which aimed to create an open, interconnected space that fosters interaction and engagement among students and staff.
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The updated union had three times more ballroom space and five times more meeting space. Starbucks, 1887 Bistro and Wolfpack Outfitters, the primary location for NC State Bookstores, opened later that summer. The renovation did not come without controversy. While the design for the new Talley began in the fall of 2009, the student body voted on whether to increase student fees to support the construction. Even with 61% of the vote going against the fees, Student Senate recommended that the university fee committee approve the Talley fee anyway. The senate’s action led to the “Rally Against Talley.”
The renovated Talley Student Union features modern dining facilities, office spaces for student organizations, and a design that encourages students to participate in campus events and conversations. The student center was completely re-imagined, with only Stewert Theatre remaining intact, but with an upgraded stage, seats, and lights. Occupants include Campus Activities, Center for Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service, Multicultural Student Affairs, Arts NC State, Stewart theatre, Student Organization Resource Center, Student Government, Student Affairs administration, dining facilities on three floors, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, 13 additional meeting rooms, and NC State Bookstores.
Stewart Theatre: A Stage for the Arts
Stewart Theatre, a prominent feature of Talley Student Union, has a rich history of showcasing performing arts at NC State. Inspired in part by the Vivian Beaumont Theater at New York’s Lincoln Center, this state of the art venue features seats that wrap the stage in a semicircle.
Since its opening, Stewart Theatre has hosted a diverse range of performances, including legendary jazz artists, innovative modern dance companies, and cutting-edge theatre productions. Notable performers, many of whom went on to become household names, have graced its stage.
The Raleigh Chamber Music Guild (now Chamber Music Raleigh) brought world-class classical concerts to Stewart Theatre in partnership with Stewart Theatre Presentations. PineCone (the Piedmont Council for Traditional Music) joined Raleigh Chamber Music Guild in presenting performances at Stewart Theatre. The first PineCone concert was by Taj Mahal in September 1987. WUNC radio joined forces to present the WUNC Jazz at Center Stage series for three years, opening with Bobby McFerrin in September 1988.
LAPD - the Los Angeles Poverty Department - is a groundbreaking theatre company made up of homeless and formerly homeless individuals. For six weeks in spring 1994 (and over a year of planning before that), the company joined with a host of community partners to work with members of Raleigh’s homeless community to tell their stories through theatre, putting the narrative in the hands of the people. The School Matinee Series was added in the 1996-97 season and continues to this day, serving up to 5,500 elementary students a year. A performance of Peer Gynt by the National Theatre of the Deaf, 1997-98. During the early 2000s, NCSU Center Stage took its place in the Triangle as a major presenter of international artists. Liz Lerman’s Hallelujah Project - In Praise of Animals and Their People, created in partnership with the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, performed at Stewart Theatre. Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) appeared in his first performance at Stewart Theatre with The Mission and their blend of funk, rock, hip-hop and classical music. Los Hombres Calientes - This New Orleans-based band performed in Stewart Theatre less than three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit their city. Esperanza Spalding - A few months after her NC State performance, she won the Grammy for best new artist.
Stewart Theatre closed for Talley Student Union’s renovation at the end of Fall semester 2012. In September, Stewart Theatre reopened, and the performing arts series was renamed NC State LIVE. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the 2019-20 season to an early close. Dr. Camille A.
In 2022-23, NC State LIVE celebrated our 50th anniversary of presenting visionary performing arts on campus. To mark this momentous occasion, we commissioned three new performing arts works, created by internationally renowned artists and educators. Our artists continue to be at the forefront of discovery of knowledge and innovation in the arts, in keeping with NC State’s commitment to research and innovation.
Services and Amenities
Talley Student Union offers a wide array of services and amenities to cater to the diverse needs of the NC State community. These include:
- Dining Venues: A variety of dining options are available on three floors, providing students with convenient and diverse food choices.
- Meeting Rooms: Thirteen additional meeting rooms offer spaces for student organizations, clubs, and academic groups to gather and collaborate.
- Ballroom: A 12,000-square-foot ballroom provides a large space for events, conferences, and social gatherings.
- NC State Bookstores: Wolfpack Outfitters, the primary location for NC State Bookstores, offers textbooks, merchandise, and other essential supplies.
- Student Organization Spaces: Talley houses offices and resources for various student organizations, including Campus Activities, the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service, Multicultural Student Affairs, the Student Organization Resource Center, and Student Government.
- Lactation Room: Talley has a dedicated lactation room on the fourth floor in room TSU 4122. To make a reservation use our google calendar.
- Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Space: Talley 2116 is available during building hours. The guidelines for use of Interfaith Prayer and Meditation spaces are placed at the door.
- AEDs: As part of emergency preparedness on campus, the student centers has AEDs in designated locations.
Addressing Space Needs
Historic industry standards of 10 square feet of space per student suggest NC State’s population - which will swell to over 40,000 undergraduates, graduate students and PhD. “We realized almost as soon as we opened [after the 2011-15 renovation] that we had already run out of space,” Hogan says. “It’s a good news, bad news situation. Along with a new strategic plan that again focuses on student success, the new Physical Master Plan is exploring such things as more spaces for student services and activities on Centennial Campus. “Right now, Witherspoon is a transactional facility in the same way Talley was when it first opened,” Hogan says. “That strategy has worked pretty well over the years,” Hogan says.
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