Student voting begins today on whether to approve an increase in segregated fees for renovations on Memorial Union and Union South.
Mark Guthier, director of the Wisconsin Union, said the renovations would include basic building improvements, as well as new program spaces for student organizations.
\The overall plan is to bring the two buildings up to modern conveniences without destroying any of the historical ambience,"" he said. ""It's an upgrade throughout for things like central air conditioning, heating systems and sprinkler systems.""
Additional meeting and lounge spaces, program rooms, a film theater and performing and ballroom spaces would be put before student approval before inclusion in the plans.
The referendum requires no less than two open student forums for every planning phase, a yearly review meeting before Associated Students of Madison and approval by the Union Council, which consists of nine student board members.
""All the new spaces envisioned would be the ones students would give us feedback on, and we'd do that at every phase of the project,"" Guthier said.
Segregated fees are proposed to increase $3 each semester for the first two years and $10 each subsequent year for 12 years, at which point the increase will be capped. Students would pay for no more than 75 percent of the renovations, while the rest would be covered by the Union Directorate's operating revenue and alumni support.
UW-Madison junior Benjamin Hawke, vice president of administration for the Wisconsin Union Directorate, said bringing the building up to current fire and handicapped-accessible codes are the most important renovations to consider, but improving campus spaces for student enjoyment is also important.
""At [Union South] there was talk about having an urban terrace out the with a water feature-kind of a space that's similar to the Memorial Union terrace,"" he said.
UW-Madison junior and Student Labor Action Coalition member Liana Dalton said while she felt improvements in the unions would be nice, the issue of limited term employees lacking benefits and permanent jobs at the unions eclipses renovation issues.
""It's really inappropriate to use student money in this way to build this,"" Dalton said. ""The point that the Labor Union is making is really valid. ... The employment people at Memorial Union and Union South are some of the worst places for LTE abuse on campus.""
Guthier said any fees that students pay now would be worth the future opportunity to enjoy the unions as alumni.
""In the long term, this is a way to benefit students by ensuring the Union is a fond place for them to come back to as an alum,"" Guthier said.
