Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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Studying it an intregal part of college life, and lltc Memorial Union offers quiet surroundings for the young scholar. Every evening students flock to the Union with their books in hand, so as to Ik ready for tomorrow. The fondest memories of college life go hack to the quiet gatherings of friends. The Memorial Union is often the gathering place of those who nterelv want to relax and cniov life. The lounge of the Union is filled from morning till evening, by those who are hunting for meeting places, lounging, or studying. The piano fills the room with soft music during much of the time. 7

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Memorial Union Evolved Through Faith of Students, Alumni Founded on massive concrete footings placed deep into the earth and crowned with a magnificent dome, the Memorial Union building stands as a center of campus unity, surrounded by 25 years of constantly thickening memories. The campus daily forms a steady stream in and out of this majestic structure, a building which was created in the minds of Oregon State students, designed by an Oregon State alumnus, and made possible through the faith and contributions of the students, alumni, faculty, and friends. The idea of a college union building first evolved from the debates of Oxford and Cambridge universities in England early in the 19lh century. Students who journeyed to these universities for a round of debating needed a place to stay, and buildings offering food and lodging for a night grew to meet their need. A little over 100 years later at Oregon State college, members of Gauntlet and Visor.” a sophomore student society, urged the society to launch a movement for voluntary contributions to a Student Union building. Their immediate purpose is only one of the Union's many services today; it was to provide a building large enough for student body social functions, but at the same time so planned as to provide facilities for various functions desired by smaller groups on campus. 6

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Students Tax Selves to Support Building Program for Union Immediately following the signing of the World War I Armistice, enthusiasm began to develop on campus to establish a war memorial to those who had lost their lives in military service. Early in the school year 1920-21 sentiment among the students was crystal-izing in favor of uniting the memorial idea with the student union building, in keeping with the standards of the International War Memorial association, which decreed that all memorials erected in the European war zone must be of use to the living as well as commemorative of the dead. The student body under the leadership of Roy S. Keene, president, had now become officially enlisted in the project, and starting January 1, 1922, the students voted enthusiastically to tax themselves $9 a year. On June 2, 1923, the Alumni Association adopted a resolution approving the plans of the student body and pledging the support of the alumni. The kickoff for money raising came January 26, 1925, and extensive plans were laid to solicit money from students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the College. The drive was an immediate success and over $600,000 was pledged. The site of the Memorial Union, in the very heart of the campus, was dedicated March 3, 1926, and machinery moved in and steam shovels began to excavate. When the time came for laying the cornerstone. Dr. J. K. Weatherford, president of the board of regents, consecrated the building, as he had dedicated the site, with the now-familiar phrase, to the service and inspiration of the living, and to the memory of our immortal dead. 8