Union director looks to the future

More than 100 years ago, John Whittenberger saw a vision for the future of Bloomington’s campus. A 1911 graduate of IU, he envisioned a building that could unify the campus.\nWhittenberger developed the concept of a union on campus – a place where faculty, students and staff could leave their differences at the door and come together as one.\nAs executive director of the Indiana Memorial Union, Bruce Jacobs is continuing Whittenberger’s quest to unite IU.\nJacobs said one of the main reasons he took the head job of the IMU was to build off of Whittenberger’s hopes and dreams. \n“I think he was right,” Jacobs said. “The Union needs to be the unifying force of the campus.” \nJacobs said to make the IMU run as smoothly as possible, it is necessary for people to convey the truth about their experiences. \n“With me, there’s always time for people, particularly for students,” Jacobs said. “The opportunity to work with the students and staff of the IMU is one of those lifelong dreams.”\nIn addition to his role as director, Jacobs participates on the Union Board as a voting member. He said he is supportive of the interaction between the Union Board and the rest of the faculty, students and staff on campus. \nJacobs noted that the Union Board is one the original seven unions to found a national organization and, in addition, one of the original unions in the country. \nThe building houses everything from bowling to the “Live from Bloomington” concert series. \n“We plan programs of all different kinds for students, by students,” said Liz Retana, president of the IMU Board of Directors. “Our mission this year is to get involved more with organizations we have not been affiliated with in the past.”\nStudents in particular visit the Union because of its diverse atmosphere. \n“I go the Union everyday to meet up with my friends for lunch,” junior Alexis Hosier said. “You can do everything at the Union: eat, go to the bookstore or take a quick nap. It’s just really nice and comfortable.” \nJacobs refers to the IMU as a melting pot. He mixes all the divisions such as the hotel, student activities and staff development into one giant concoction. \nWhittenberger’s quest to unite the campus continues under Jacobs’ leadership.\n“We are and will continue to reach out more to of the campus,” Jacobs said. “We need to go to as many different student organizations, particularly the international student organization and also to the resident halls, to recruit people for the Union Board to broaden the scope.”