By Eric Ray
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 3, 1997

Repair the Union, leave its tradition

Editor:

True, the union desperately needs repairs. The roof leaks, there aren't enough fire sprinklers, parts of the building need to be reinforced. Oh, what the hell. Let's just rip the place apart. Why should we want to eat and relax in such an old, dilapidated building? We deserve state-of-the-art.

Think about it. If we tear down this union, the new one could be a giant food-court / mini-mall. It would be complete with every major fast-food chain, coffee bar, and clothing store. Who needs the tradition, style, and charm of the old union when we can have The Gap?

You know, while we're at it, we should demolish Bear Down Gym. Nobody really uses it now, and it's just about to fall over anyway. I mean it's just a hassle to have to get up on the roof every year and paint those stupid words, "Bear Down." We can put a new multiplex theater there. Forget the Gallagher, this would have forty screens and digital sound.

Well, we would lose the midnight shows because it would be owned by a national chain, but nobody ever goes to those stupid midnight shows anyway, right?

Once the gym is replaced, the next step is Old Main. Come on, it's been condemned nine times. Why should we keep a building that is obviously such a threat to the students? It's just an eyesore. If we tear down Old Main and pave over the rest of the mall, we could have tons of parking for in the center of campus. No more walking ten miles after you've parked your car. No more expensive parking structures.

If we pave over the mall, we would practically eliminate the parking problem for the campus and the surrounding area. Granted, we wouldn't be able to relax in the grass when the weather is nice. But the weather here in Tucson is horrible. People almost never use the lawn anymore because it rains so much.

So forget about the style and tradition that makes our campus unique. Forget about the Cellar. Forget about the Gallagher. Forget about Louie's and the Fig and Sam's Place. We want fast-food chains. We want progress.

For all those who missed my point, allow me to explain. Repair the Union. It needs it. But please don't destroy an important piece of our campus that adds tradition and charm.

Eric Ray
Biochemistry Sophomore