Mississippi State University - Reveille Yearbook (Starkville, MS)

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Union Programming Budget Suffers Reduction The Union opened on Mississippi State ' s campus Octo- ber 6, 1964. Since then the Union has grown and expanded and in 1978 as many as one million people passed through its doors in a three month period. Union programs and activities were diversified: there were annual chess tour- naments, Bridal Fairs, Madrigal Dinners, Trivia Bowls, Halloween Carnivals and plant sales, in addition to weekly movies, playbacks of MSU football games, and art displays. Offering a variety of services to students, the Union was one place where the saying nothing in life is free any- more was disproven for more than a decade. However, in 1978 Union programming was cut by $7,000 in efforts to balance the budget, forcing free programming to be dis- solved. Expenses for carrying out the programs, building main- tenance, and inflation caused the Union to finally react to the national economic pinch. The most visible results were the reduction of Union Program Council committees from ten to seven and the termination of freebies such as Friday night movies and ice cream give-aways. In an attempt to increase revenues, admission for Wednesday night movies was raised from fifty to seventy-five cents, while fees for copying services doubled to a dime per page. Even witn the belt tightening, the Union was still the focal point of campus. It was the place to go for MSU students. They went there to eat, study, watch the soaps, or shoot the bull. Within its walls students learned to interact with others, socialize, and work together on com- mon goals. The Union still provided a place to communi- cate. M. Garriga 10

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The section of East Lee Boulevard immediately in front of the YMCA Post Office Building was closed to motor- ized traffic on September 4 to create a pedestrian mall between the Post Office and the Union. When Dr. James McComas announced the creation of the mall he commented, The decision to implement the pedestrian mall has been made only after a lengthy study and consultation by administrators, students and experts. This study, which was conducted by the MSU Traffic Committee during the spring of 1978, showed that during peak traffic hours, an average of 1218 pedestrians and 738 vehicles passed through the area. At the time the mall was created, Chief John C. Moore of MSU Security said, The overwhelming majority of stu- dents I have talked to have been in favor of the mall, and a survey conducted by the REFLECTOR a few weeks later showed that most students were indeed in favor of the pedestrian mall. Prior to creation of the mall pedestrians faced a potential hazard while crossing Lee Boulevard. 12