UTEP students pass measure to rebuild Union West

Update: UTEP students have approved the measure. The school says the measure passed with fewer than 100 votes.

“Students at the University of Texas at El Paso voted this week to pass a referendum calling for the replacement of Union West and the renovation of Union East,” UTEP says. “A total of 1,171 students voted in favor of the referendum; 1,098 voted against. The student campus improvement project now goes to the Texas State Legislature for approval.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – This week, UTEP students voted on the future of the West Wing of the Student Union. However, UTEP Heritage Commission member Dr. PJ Vierra doesn't think students are entirely clear about what they are voting for.

Student Government Association President Edgar Loya says the needs of the student body have evolved and the West Wing can no longer accommodate all campus organizations.

According to the UTEP website, the following features are expected during the renovation:

• Lounge, work and common areas – plenty of seating
• Work and meeting room for student organizations
• Space for billiards, table tennis and other table games
• Area for eSports and PC gaming
• New restaurant with healthy food, also accessible after opening hours
• State-of-the-art technology and many power sockets
• Large ballroom for events with 600-800 people

A vote to rebuild the West Wing would also mean the demolition of the dinner theater and an increase in union dues from $30 to $150 per semester over three years.

According to Vierra, the west wing consists of two parts. The side, which houses the dinner theater, was built in 1949 by architect Percy Magee, who inherited the legacy of Henry Trust, the founder of the Bhutanese Renaissance architectural style.

The UTEP spokesman stated, “The Heritage Commission as a whole has not taken a position on this issue.”

“Many of us are concerned about our unique campus. We want to make sure the university does not make the mistake of destroying our cultural heritage,” Vierra said.

Vierra says the second part of the West Wing was built in the 1950s and was not built to the same construction standards or engineering as the Percy McKee buildings. He says if students decide to rebuild the West Wing, there needs to be a way to modernize the second part of the West Wing without demolishing the Dinner Theater.

Vierra has set up a website to educate students about the history of the West Wing and explain why many believe its demolition was a mistake.

The UTEP spokesman stated, “The Heritage Commission as a whole has not taken a position on this issue.”