by Kara Megan Lang

There is a special spot in the Memorial Union. It lies in the main lounge, second armchair from the right. That’s my chair. Maybe others often sit there, but I tend to consider it my own special place. I find myself in that chair often: studying, growing, learning, and relaxing.

The Memorial Union has always been in the background of what you could call my collective college experience. It has served as a place where I could meet with friends, a building that is quiet to study in during the evenings. It has been a supplementary part of campus, not the center of my experiences – that is, until my third year at OSU when it took a front row seat in my life.

First of all, working in the MU I am able to meet some of the most amazing people. I am immediately surrounded by a supportive group of caring individuals. Then there are all of the opportunities I have to meet new students and staff. I learn something new every day, be it culturally, academically, or emotionally. When I am not working, there is still so much that I experience. The MU provides rooms that student groups such as Golden Key and Mortar Board are able to gather in, both groups I am involved with. The MU also provides a student lounge, a place I have studied in for many and afternoon. I dance in the ballroom. I watch movies in the lounge. I check my e-mail in Java Stop. I mail my letters in the Post Office. I read the newspaper, make new friends, eat, sleep, and think.

In my chair I see people interacting with one another. I see a place to gather and relax. From hosting conferences and ballroom dances, to featuring dynamic speakers and housing public forums, the MU is always a hubbub of activity. I had always known about all of the happenings throughout college, but it was not until I started working there that I really saw the MU work its magic. Now I find that my experiences are centered around the Memorial Union and all of the resources that it has to offer.