Student Union Profile

The Student Union at Oklahoma State University is among the largest in the nation having many resources and options for the students of the university. Many students use the Union to study, hang out with friends, and have lunch at one of the many restaurants within the complex. Located at the center of campus it isn’t the easiest walk; however, it is easily the most populated building on campus,  filled with the most accommodations. It includes an auditorium where several  lectures and larger classes are held, as well as many of the advisors on campus offices in the Student Union.

There are also many opportunities for hiring OSU students at the union, which can be  helpful to students who rely on jobs to help with college expenses, including but not limited to working at a desk and helping guide people around campus, to serving food, and even helping advise new students on classes and other activities. The store located right inside the Student Union’s main entrance holds any necessary materials needed for classes and day to day life. As well as where you can find textbook materials and school supplies all of which can be added to a students bursar account, when they use their student ID, which can be paid at a later date. And while the resources and opportunities at the Student Union deserve an entire book or memoir, the real gem of this building is the comfort and sense of community it can bring to students who choose to go there to study or rela. And use the little free time college students have to try and focus on something that isn’t homework.

On a day to day basis students walk around campus a lot and it feels like  each one seems to spend their free time in between classes, club meetings, or just any extra time sitting on their laptop or chatting with friends somewhere in the Student Union. With the building consisting of five floors and enough rooms to be considered a part of residential housing it can seem a bit overwhelming to anyone who is a new student who is just starting classes or is visiting on a tour.  Audra Loney, a freshman Animal Science major was interviewed stating “ I remember on orientation thinking to myself as the tour guide listed off all the things and rooms and parts of the building I was like there is zero chance I am remembering any of this”.  While that feeling crawls its way into a lot of students’ minds the important thing to remember is just how temporary that feeling is, and that statement was further backed up by  Audra who after a follow up question shared her experience with confronting the Student Union after classes started saying “ it’s like the central place everyone goes too” “like if you need something a good guess on where to find it is the Union”. The overarching idea of a central place for all students to come and either get everything that they have procrastinated for the past two weeks done, or just relax and maybe catch up with old friends they haven’t been able to talk to in awhile or maybe meet a new friend is such  vital component of college life. As more and more students get acclimated to college and start to find a personalized routine and spots to study, it’s important to know what’s available to each student and where they can find those accommodations.

With every student being unique when it comes to studying habits, and sleep schedules it can be overwhelming to find a spot to just sit and relax that isn’t your dorm. With all the craziness Audra’s final sentiments were “it’s really cool to have a place to just read or be by yourself but not be totally alone”. The biggest part of college is community and having a feeling of support when you need it and even when you don’t.  There is also always a fun activity to take part in at the Student Union that can get you involved with others and give someone the opportunity to have a fun experience between classes. One of these activities includes Pete’s Pet Posse which is a group of therapy dogs that stroll around campus offering support and comfort to any student that needs it. Along with fun activities like that there is also a numerous amount of emotional and mental support available to students, with the counseling center being located on the second floor of the Union. Within the tight knit Cowboy Community the highest priority is to make sure that everyone feels comfortable enough to seek help with anything. With trained professionals you can take advantage of this to make sure that everyone is taking care of themselves so they can put their best foot forward as a student and as a person.

Another helpful resource is the Bursar Office located on the first floor of the Union. This is an incredibly helpful place because college can be expensive. The people inside the Bursar Office are there to help with any and every question a person could have regarding their financial status, scholarships opportunities, and other ways to help make paying for college a little easier on us and our parents. . With all these resources, activities, and opportunities for each student the Union very quickly becomes an interqual part of every student day to day life and helps each student in a unique way. The community and atmosphere helps to shape a students mindset and brings to life a sense of what college is all about, and that is why it’s so important to know about. Having an idea of everything that is offered to each and every student to help make their own college experience better is just one of the many examples of how OSU pours into every student who attended this university.