Always a central place for students; From the Student Union Building to the Taggart Student Center
The most common building to find students passing through, socializing, eating, fixing class schedules, checking e-mail or planning campus events is the Taggart Student Center.
Back in 1952, when the building was built, the same atmosphere existed in what was then called the Student Union Building.
In many ways, students today can relate to the reasons the building was originally built.
The main reason was to have a place where dances and social functions could be held.
This made it possible to have the Glen Miller show for the past 23 years and various other social functions like the annual Halloween Howl and Homecoming.
Since 1952, the building has been “the other half” of the students’ education, according to a USU Center pamphlet.
Before the Student Union Building was built, the building where events such as these were held was at the Temporary Union Building (TUB).
The TUB sat north of the library and was a place for students to hang out. It was used for military until right after the soldiers moved off campus, said Bob Parson, archivist for Special Collections and Archives.
“It was the center of campus any time they were holding big events,” Parson said.
When comparing the TSC to its old self, it is obvious there have been a variety of changes.
Some of the changes include the elimination of the bowling alley that was located on the first floor.
“The bowling alley was great fun. It was popular in the ’60s and ’70s,” said Jan Benson, assistant director, High School/College relations.
When Benson attended USU, the Student Union Building had been there for 11 years.
The floors in the lounge and cafeteria were laid in pink terrazzo and the walls were of gray, mottled marble, according to the USAC Student Union Handbook in 1952.
“I remember the reputation it had. It was kind of a joke,” Benson said.
The administrators had decided to take the expensive route with top-of-the-line flooring. People called it the “Taj Mahal,” Benson said.
There were also auxiliary libraries in the building, since the Merrill Library was not added onto until 1966, Parson said.
A soda fountain and camera shop were also found on the first floor of the Student Union Building.
The Quick Stop is occupying the space where the Briar, a smoking lounge, was once located.
On the second floor were the administrative offices, banquet rooms, cafeteria, information counter and the Main Ballroom. The Main Ballroom could hold 1,700 couples, according to the handbook.
The old ballroom was almost half its present size, Benson said.
“On one side, it had a large stage where we’d perform and produce shows,” Benson said.
The third floor had a browsing room, music listening lounges, and the student body officer offices.
The Skyroom restaurant on the fourth floor was then a popular spot for wedding receptions, Benson said.
In 1979, after Glen L. Taggart retired as USU’s 11th president, the building was named the Taggart Student Center.
The east wing of the building was also built, Parson said.
Not only has the building been a center for finding a dance or a social event, but it makes history because its creation was the result of students developing a voice in administration.
The decision made in th ’50s to listen to the students and have a Student Center was a success.
Students now have a great voice in their education, Benson said.