Memorial Union
The Memorial Union is the community center for all members of the university: students, faculty, administration, alumni, and guests. The Union is a vital part of both the educational and social life of our university. The Memorial Union, a non-profit organization, was the first student union facility constructed west of the Mississippi River. The Union stands as a memorial to all students who served their country in a time of war. It is one of the largest single employers of students on the ESU campus.
The Union Services Office coordinates the scheduling of Memorial Union space, the university’s public performance facilities, and other non-classroom areas for all non-academic activities, including club meetings, fundraisers, special presentations, and speakers. Organizations interested in scheduling facilities for non-academic activities should make requests by calling 620-341-5443 as far in advance as possible.
The Union Facilities Department is responsible for the preservation and development of the internal and external Memorial Union building. Responsibilities include building renovations, meeting room set-ups, conference facilitation, maintenance, and housekeeping. The Union is presently in the process of an $18.5 million renovation.
Dining Services offers three eating areas in the Union. The Hornet's Nest offers homemade pizza, fast food grill selections, deli and salad bars, plus fresh entrees along with full beverage service and a variety of desserts. The Hornet's Nest is open to all students, faculty, staff, and the public seven days a week.
A more formal atmosphere is provided in the Skyline Dining Room. The self-service buffet line, featuring lunch on weekdays, offers a wide variety of salads, vegetables, entrees, and desserts from which to choose.
The Hornet Express is located on the first floor of the Union. It is a grab-and-go venue that offers burritos, sandwiches, ice cream smoothies, candy, chips, and a variety of beverages. Hornet Express is open weekdays from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Catering Department provides a full range of catering services from donuts and coffee to full banquet meals. Arrangements for catering are made initially in the Union Services Office.
The Memorial Union Bookstore is located in the east wing of the building. The store stocks required books and materials for ESU students and faculty, as well as a wide selection of art supplies, magazines, general reading books, souvenirs, sportswear, greeting cards, and much more. Textbook reservations and United Parcel Service (UPS) are also available through the bookstore for the convenience of the students, faculty, and staff.
The Memorial Union Welcome Center is located just inside the east entrance of the Memorial Union. The friendly staff will assist you in adjusting to your new environment.
For your convenience, the center provides these services: postal money orders, FAX service, lost and found, and check cashing. The center is open Monday through Friday. Its staff is pleased to serve as the “Center of the ESU Campus.”
The Memorial Union Ticket Outlet, a service of the Memorial Union Welcome Center, offers discounted tickets for Worlds of Fun, Silver Dollar City, and the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Also, tickets for university-sponsored events are conveniently available, many at a student discount, to include athletic and theatre tickets.
A U.S. Postal Sub-station is located at the Memorial Union Welcome Center, where you may buy stamps and drop mail. The Sub-station provides approximately 90% of the services of the downtown Post Office.
The University I.D. Office and Athletic Ticketing Office, located in the east wing of the Union, issues the Hornet Card - the official university identification card. The Hornet Card accesses products and services in the library, student health center, bookstore, dining areas, and athletic and cultural events. Tickets to all athletic and theatre events are dispensed through this office. ESU students may pick up their game tickets in the office prior to each home football game. The I.D. Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Hornet Bucks offers students, faculty, and staff discounts through on-campus vendors, which may be used in the Memorial Union Bookstore, the Hornet's Nest, the Skyline Room, The Hornet Express, and the Health Center to make purchases. Both the bookstore and dining services offer a 10% discount when using these funds. Textbooks and software are exempt from the discount. Funds may be added to Hornet Bucks in the University I.D. Office. The initial deposit is a minimum of $25. All funds are secure if the card is lost and then subsequently reported to the I.D. Office at 620-341-5859.
As an extension of computing services for ESU students, the University I.D. Office will check out video projectors for no charge to current students. For more information about the program, call the I.D. Office at 620-341-5859.