BY ALISA THOMAS

Staff Writer

From sponsoring activities like Midnight Magic, Spring Fling, movie nights, comedy shows, Spring Bash and various concerts throughout the year, the Union Board does it all to get students to remain involved in university life.

Matt Magnuson, the vice president of Union Board and a senior biomedical engineering major, said the Union Board is all about keeping students at Tech.

"One of the main goals of Tech's Union Board is to promote student unity and at the same time having fun on campus," Magnuson said. "[It's] getting students to stay at Tech instead of going to other schools for activities."

Union Board was established in 1940 as the Student Union. Students pay $10 a quarter to help with funding of many of the activities that union board puts on.

The organization works on a budget of approximately $240,000, and Tech students make up the Union Board.

According to the Union Board Constitution, requirements for membership include each member must be a full-time student in good standing, have at least a 2.0 GPA overall and have no conflict with the board's regular meeting of Thursday nights at 6 p.m.

Magnuson said he enjoys working with Union Board because of the many different types of students who are members of the organization.

"I love working with a big group of diverse people," Magnuson said. "My favorite feeling is, after an event that went well, that everyone had a great time doing it, although we all worked really hard during the event and putting it together."

Barry Morales, the adviser for Union Board and the director of student activities, said he considers the Union Board to be beneficial to both the university and students.

"It provides lots of opportunities for students to grow both socially and personally and [it is] an opportunity to complement academic studies," Morales said.

Rodney Baker, a freshman merchandising and consumer studies major, said he thinks the organization is different.

"I try to participate in many of the events that the Union Board puts on, it allows me the chance to meet and mingle with lots of upperclassmen," Baker said.

"The Spring Fling was one of my favorites because they had lots of activities that a normal college student wouldn't even think about participating in because of how silly we might appear, like jumping in [the inflatable toys] just because," Baker added.

Ja'Leta Wilson, a sophomore psychology major, is looking forward to the board's Spring Bash.

"I went to the [Spring] Bash last year and it was real crunk," Wilson said. "It's good to be able to have parties at Tech instead of going to a club and having to pay way more to do the same thing at school for less."

Morales said he sees the Union Board as not only an activities group, but an opportunity for all students' voices to be heard.

"I am very proud of what Union Board does, and I think they impact students in a wonderful way," Morales said. "The Union Board is an extroverted organization, very highly involved in bringing the best they can to students."