Union (East)

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The Duke East Union building.

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Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page.

Duke East's student union is home to many important amenities and events for TIPsters.

1 Dining
2 Shopping
3 Social Events

[edit] Dining

Sam and Daag in the Marketplace dining hall as TIPsters

The Union is home to the Marketplace, were food is served, without which no TIPster will long survive (except for ordering food). The Marketplace has a salad bar, a selection of cereals, pizza-shaped cardboard, various sodas and healthy drinks, and various hot meals, formerly including Blazing Sea Nuggets. Unlike Davidson, food does not appear in various incarnations over several days. Between 2004 and 2005, a "world" menu was added, and in 2006 the food was revised when a new caterer was hired.

The dining hall itself is very spacious and aesthetically pleasing, with a high, attractive ceiling, decent lighting, and plenty of salt shakers.

In addition to the dining hall and cafeteria, the Union houses the Trinity Cafe (not related to the Trinity). The Trinity Cafe serves various caffeinated drinks, and inspired the song "Lady at Trinity", based off of "Taylor, the Latte Boy", during Term II, 2004. The cafe was closed in 2007.

[edit] Shopping

The basement of the Union houses a small store stocking many things a TIPster might need, including boring acadmic supplies (paper, etc.); construction materials (for skits and such), and Duke paraphanaelia; including t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and teddy bears. The store also houses "protest food" for when the cafeteria food just gets too bad, i.e. Ramen Noodles, Hot Pockets, and pints of Ben & Jerry's. The class Past is the Present at Term II '04 was notorious for buying pints after lunch and mass-devouring them. The basement is also home to a minimal post office and bathrooms.

It should be noted that Union Store staff policy is very stringent. Reading of newspapers and magazines, even the parts visible to all customers, without intent to purchase inevitably will result in getting yelled at. Moreover, the staff will not hesitate to confiscate a TIPster's Trinity Cafe drinks, if they are brought into the store. They have also been known to pursue TIPsters and/or contact TIP staff if they leave the store instead of throwing out their full drinks.

Old school TIPsters called the union store the dope shop, and the staff thereof "evil dope shop workers".

[edit] Social Events

Roughly a decade ago, most social events took place on the Lilly Library steps rather than the Union ones.

[edit] Dances

During dances at East, which are based on the Circle Quad, speakers and the DJ station are mounted on the Union. The union steps are the site for the Time Warp dance. If it should rain the dances are moved into the Union's lobby (it is unpleasant and quite crowded; it happened Term II 2005 and 2006).

edit by Max: While it is rather crowded and yecch *was at the horrid term ii incident* it makes it much easier to get away with... well really anything. If you're in the middle of everyone the RC's have a harder time seeing you! But you didn't hear it from me!

edit by Batboy: It should also be noted that on the last dance (the one moved into the Union building), the DJ didn't reconfigure the amplifier and volume levels on the CD-Mix to reflect the change in environment, and due to this, blew the speakers (and probably a few eardrums) out. Fortunately, a few campers were allowed to go to Bassett and hang out there. Then there's the "Guest DJ" petition fiasco, but that's another story.

The speakers weren't blown. They had to be unplugged due to lightning, etc.

edit by Melanie: The TiP dances are the perfect time to go onto the Union roof, seeing as how almost everyone is outside. Make sure you leave a lookout, and be careful about the RAs by the sound equipment windows since they can see a bit up the stairs.

[edit] Quadfest

The Union is the focal point of Quadfest, where dorms enter, and where songs and skits take place.

During Quadfest Term II, '06, one of the columns outside of the Union recieved a splotch of Giles green paint. It was removed within the next three days, but alas, the poor Union still has a cleaning fluid stain.