A luncheon on Thursday inside the University Student Union (USU) allowed students to meet with the USU board of directors and also grab some pizza.

The luncheon was a chance to build support for the Bold New U, a proposed new USU.

“[It’s] a great opportunity to expand our campus, and what a lot of students think is that tuition is going to go up or the student union fees would go up. That happens only after the new student union is in use,” said Veronica Salcedo, chair of the Budget and Operations Committee.

The luncheon enabled students to engage with the board and hear about its actions for the student body. Along with the meet and greet, students were given a slice of pizza if they followed the directors’ new social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram.  

“A lot of people also think we’re going to take down the [current student union], and we are not.  We are actually taking out [the University Center] and putting it there,” Salcedo said.  

The board opened the new accounts to ensure students knew about the services provided through the organization.

“A lot of times we give out surveys and notice that students don’t really know what services are available to them,” Salcedo said. “Those accounts will help promote those services.”

For first-year grad student Marisol Aguayo, the luncheon provided the opportunity to give the board feedback and share what students want to see in the new student union.

“Sleep pods where we could go take a nap,” said Aguayo. “I live in Madera, so let’s say I have classes at night and early in the morning, I don’t go back. I stay here. For those students that do stay on campus all day, it would be nice to have a little room or something where you could take a quick nap and recharge your energy.”

The Bold New U will be on the Associated Students, Inc. ballot in March. The board of directors meets in USU Room 306, the Student Involvement Office.