Student Center

Northern students started assessing themselves $5 per quarter in 1957 for the construction of a student center. Shortly after, the administration sought funds from faculty, alumni and friends of the college in a major fund-raising effort. Ground breaking was held September 10, 1958, and the facility opened to students at the beginning of the spring quarter in 1960. Built at a cost of $350,000, the building was officially named the Memorial Student Union and dedicated "to the memory of former students and faculty members, especially those who served in the country's wars" in a ceremony held May 26, 1960. The structure has had three additions since – the first in 1966 at a cost of $170,000 for a game room and bowling alley; the second in 1969 at a cost of $306,972 added the bookstore and enlarged the ballroom; and the most recent in 1999 at a cost of $4.2 million added approximately 4,700 square feet. Now called the Student Center, the remodeled and expanded building houses all student services related offices, consisting of residence life, student activities, health services, counseling and career development, minority student achievement and disability services, as well as the University Bookstore, campus post office, Student Center Gallery, dining hall, student game and activities room, and several meeting rooms.