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University Union at Syracuse University Records

An inventory of its records at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Jaihyun Park
Date: 2018



Historical Note

The University Union is the student organization responsible for student programming events at Syracuse University. It was officially established in 1962. An earlier University Union was founded in 1926, but records do not show when it was formally dissolved.

Both the earlier iteration and current University Union historically struggled to establish a permanent student union building on campus. It suffered from numerous relocations and displacements for many years. The earlier University Union was formerly housed at 405 University Place until 1952 when the building was demolished to make way for Watson Hall. It then moved to 917 S. Crouse for the 1952-1953 school year. By the time the current University Union officially formed in 1962, there was no permanent student union building and events were held at various locations across campus. The University Union continued advocating for a student union building and was instrumental in soliciting many small individual donations for the Schine Student Center, which opened in 1985.

For much of the 1970s and 1980s, the University Union consisted of nine main boards. Five boards focused on planning events in the form of speakers, concerts, theater and performing arts, and general programming, and four boards focused on running the Community Darkrooms, the University Union Cinemas, the Jabberwocky, and UUTV. The Jabberwocky was a well-beloved nightclub on campus that existed from 1969 to 1985. Each of these boards represent major aspects of the programming and facilities the University Union offered for students.

UUTV was the entirely student-run audiovisual and television studio that produced news, sports, and entertainment content. It was founded in 1970 as Synapse and was acquired by the University Union in 1977. While this began its UUTV era, there were several years when the station was known as both Synapse and UUTV. The UUTV era ended in 2004 when the station split off from the University Union. UUTV's programming was originally broadcast on the campus cable system and later the City of Syracuse's public-access television channel. Some program episodes were also syndicated nationwide. Popular original student-created television shows included Newswatch, The Rhythm, To the Batcave, and Null and Void. Visiting artists and speakers would sometimes feature in its content. UUTV also broadcast episodes of older shows like The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. The station is now known as CitrusTV.

Currently, the University Union holds sizeable events like the annual Juice Jam festival, Mayfest, and Block Party as well as smaller events, such as the Bandersnatch Concert Series, weekly cinema screenings, and appearances of popular comedians and speakers. The University Union is now located in Schine Student Center.


Scope and Content Note

The University Union at Syracuse University Records comprise audiovisual materials and organization records that document its history. In addition to official University Union documents, materials from the earlier University Union and student organizing efforts for a student union building are also included in the collection. The collection is divided into two series:

The Media series is composed of recordings on various types of videotapes, videocassette tapes, and reels, with the primary formats being U-matic and 1 inch videotapes. The recordings are primarily of UUTV and CitrusTV television programs, campus sports games, and live concerts. Some of the television programs most well represented in the collection are Newswatch, Null and Void, Sportsrap, and To the Batcave. This section of the finding aid contains text that was taken from connected papers or containers that give the item more context; this type of text includes commentary, value judgments, and more in-depth content descriptions.

The Records series comprises scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, a University Union pin, official communications, and files related to the running of the University Union, including documentation surrounding efforts to secure various student union buildings. The series contains fliers, programs, and calendars for a variety of events in film, television, concerts, and general social events. It also contains some information on events held at the Jabberwocky throughout its history.

This collection may contain materials that users find objectionable due to racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist, ableist, or otherwise derogatory or harmful content. Such representations and language were prevalent at the time of the items' creation, although no less harmful and inaccurate than they are today. The collection is preserved and presented for its historic and research value.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Related Material

The University Archives holds a clipping file for the University Union as well as images in the Syracuse University Photograph Collection. The Archives also houses the Synapse Collection; this collection also includes recordings of live artists and speakers from this time period, as well as other programming.


Selected Search Terms

Names

Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- University Union.

Subjects

College buildings.
College students.
College theater.
Concerts.
Dance recitals.
Lectures.
Student activities.
Television programs.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Audiovisual materials.
Booklets.
Buttons (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Film reels.
Leaflets (printed works)
Playbills.
Posters.
Programs (documents)
Scrapbooks.
U-matic.
Videocassettes.
Videotapes.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

University Union at Syracuse University Records,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of the University Union between 1989 and 2010 and Tara Nealon in 1993.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Newspaper clippings and enclosures were removed from scrapbooks for preservation purposes.


Arrangement

Materials in this collection are organized alphabetically.


Table of Contents

Media

Records


Inventory