http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Zylk0pISaQ/T5AeI9ooa5I/AAAAAAAAAC8/oJPJdoA6vcg/s1600/IMG_1969.jpg Today is an important day for our UIS community – the day that students have an opportunity to vote to build a Student Union on our campus. The referendum today is a student-led initiative and I strongly support it. As I've been getting to know UIS students this year, I've heard again and again that students need and want a union and, as far as I'm concerned, we can't get the shovel into the ground soon enough!

Our union will be a destination for all members of our community - on–campus students, non-traditional students, graduate students, faculty members, staff, alums, and yes, even the Chancellor. It will be our campus living room – a bright and bustling hot spot for student activities long into the future; a place to work on homework, hold meetings, enjoy some new food and beverage options, play video games, and just hang out after class. As our student leaders are fond of saying: "Think of it as a campus town in a box."

If you are a UIS student, I hope that you will vote today for this very important next step in the growth of our university.