UW-Madison students said their final farewell to Union South at the Wrecking Ball"" Friday night.
The event, sponsored by the Wisconsin Union Directorate, commemorated the closing of the existing union and the construction of the new south campus building, slated to open in the spring of 2011.
""The people who put on the event thought the Wrecking Ball was a smashing success,"" said Shira Weiner, vice president of public relations for WUD. ""Hundreds of students came to enjoy a wide variety of fun, free events.""
The UW-Madison Ballroom Dance Association and the Badger Ballroom Dance Team kicked off the event with free swing dance lessons. During the twisting and dipping, the UW Big Band, a student jazz ensemble, took the stage to carry on the party. Weiner said it was one of the night's biggest successes.
In addition to taking the dance floor in Club 770, students were eager to try their hand at free bowling but had to wait an hour or more for their 45-minute slot.
Jon Hietpas and Nate Hermanson were among the participants at the farewell. They said a pitcher of beer would be the perfect complement to their bowling game but found nowhere to buy it, unlike at Memorial Union.
""Union South should serve pitchers to all students, not just leagues,"" Hermanson said.
Along with a lengthy line of students, the two attendees sampled rice pudding, white rice with teriyaki sauce and a vegetable-rice dish at the ""Mini Taste of Cultures"" presented by the Global Connections Committee.
The evening ended with a midnight screening of the 1974 film ""Young Frankenstein.""
Demolition of the current Union South is scheduled to begin in the upcoming months, and organizations in the building plan to move out in January.
Students can apply for a spot on the Union Design Committee until Dec. 21. Directors are also seeking interns in marketing, graphic design, sustainability and construction for the spring semester.
