by Mychal Loomis

The Memorial Union is the heart of the Oregon State University campus with its variety of activities, diverse people, and welcoming atmosphere.  I have spent the past three years involved with MUPC and have found the Memorial Union to be much more than an office, it serves as a welcoming home on campus.

One thing that separates the Memorial Union from all other buildings on campus is the people.  There are endless possibilities of who one might run into just strolling the halls at the MU; faculty, staff, students, visitors, and the local community all tend to migrate towards the building.  The main stairs seem to be the official meeting place for people, and rightly so as one can stand and watch people roam the Quad heading in all different directions.

I personally have found it to be a great place to meet people, as I have developed many friends through MUPC and related events.  I always encourage events to be held at the MU or in the Quad so I can show off my “office” and the beautiful surroundings.  Whenever I get stuck with an hour break on campus I naturally start walking towards the MU.  What happens in the next hour depends greatly on who I run into and what events are currently going on.  Sometimes I do not even get a chance to sit down because I am busy mingling and getting things done, while other times I get to just sit down and enjoy the noises.

Upon graduation, I hope to be able to look back and see that I have left an impression with the people that I have met at OSU.  The Memorial Union is a place that I really feel like I have made an impression, but so has everyone else that has entered the doors.  The people are what make it a wonderful place, and people keep it a wonderful place so that the future generations can have the same feelings that we all have felt.  The Spirit of the Memorial Union is an ongoing feeling that will never die, and I sure am glad I got to be a part of it.