Student Union De Luxe

Rare in Eastern colleges but common in the Middle West is an institution known as the Student Union. Boasting dining halls, ballrooms, bowling alleys, soda fountains, lounges, music rooms, cinemas, nightclubs, Student Unions in the last ten years have become the social centres of the huge State universities.

Last week University of Minnesota capped them all with a new Union that rivaled the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

No rich man's college, Minnesota, second biggest U. S. university (first: California), is a vigorous, booming educational service station like Ohio State (TIME, Jan. 22). Many of its 15,000-odd students are poor and doggedly hardworking. To build them a worthy social centre was an ambition of Minnesota's late great President Lotus Delta Coffman. Last fortnight Minnesota's students, faculty and alumni (aided by PWA) made his wish a fact, dedicated the $1,850,000 Coffman Memorial Union on the Mississippi's bluffs. Last week, Minnesota's boys and girls tramped over its thick red carpets, sprawled in its purple and cream chairs, marveled at its furnishings. They noted: ^ A two-story lounge with gold pillars, black marble fireplaces.

> A two-story ballroom with ottomans, leather-covered doors (see cut}.

> A garden terrace overlooking the Mississippi, a tearoom, a cafeteria with 630 seats, twelve private dining rooms, a room for students who bring their lunch.

> 18.000 mailboxes, 30 bridge tables, 16 bowling alleys, 15 billiard tables.

> A broadcasting system, 16 grand pianos, a Hammond electric organ.

"Marvelous!" exclaimed Minnesota's President Guv Stanton Ford. "Beautiful!" said Walter A. Jessup, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Said the university administration, anticipating outcries from frugal Minnesotans: "It costs no more to buy purple chairs than dull brown ones."

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