Anyone who lives in Wisconsin knows that winter takes over most of the year, which makes us enjoy what little sunlight and warmth we can get. If you have ever stepped foot in Madison, you know that there is no better place to do this than the Memorial Union Terrace. The Memorial Union Terrace is a spot like no other on campus. At the Terrace, generations of past and present Badgers come together with local community members to enjoy good food, good weather and a great view.
Unfortunately, the terrace has been temporarily closed for renovations from September 2015 until early next summer. As a senior, I find this particularly depressing. There will be no Spotted Cow shared with my parents and extended family. No illegal feeding of the ducks until a lifeguard yells at me. No Babcock ice cream while watching the waves of Lake Mendota. No attempted theft of a terrace chair at graduation. Whatever purpose these renovations serve, I’d more likely give up a kidney than voluntarily agree to the terrace closing. If you are not from Wisconsin, this probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to you (aka people like my father, who refers to the terrace as “the patio”). Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am no expert; maybe the union really did need renovations. Maybe the terrace was kind of falling apart. But no matter the reason, I can guarantee that you will not find a single student on campus who is enjoying this process. The cold Wisconsin winter has yet to come, the warm days are still persisting, and right now, we really miss our terrace.
The terrace is a place for studying (well kind of), socializing (mostly), and of course, relaxing (always). Whenever I’m having a bad day, I sit at the edge of Lake Mendota and remember why I came to Wisconsin. Sunsets on Lake Mendota are breathtaking and of course only made better by a brat and a beer. So please, allow us all a moment of silence as we mourn the temporary loss of our beloved terrace. Memorial Union, you have never let me down, and you are still my favorite place on campus. I know graduation won’t be what it’s supposed to be without you. Until next time Memorial Union, we’ll be waiting for you.