North Texas Daily

Alejandro Medellin | Staff Writer

@medellin_alex

Students have been curious about what sits behind the fences around the Union since construction began in 2012. After this semester, the long wait will be over.

One of the most integral parts of the Student Union is the Syndicate, which will be a two-story structure with accommodations for any student. If the Union is the heart of campus, the Syndicate is the heart of the Union.

The Syndicate in the old Union was a gathering place. Students could play pool, watch soccer matches, eat lunch, study and have a cup of coffee. It was a one-stop shop for any basic college necessity and a place to unwind between classes.

University Union director Zane Reif said the old Union was desperately in need of renovations, describing it as “cruddy and dirty.” It has been moved from the bottom floor to the second. It was also relocated to the other side of the Union, where the Lyceum used to be.

One defining feature of the new structure will be its technological capabilities.

“We’ll actually have TVs,” Reif said. “So if you’re with a group of your friends, you can go sit on some couches and you can plug in your Playstation 4, or you could plug your laptops in and work on your homework, or you could flip the news channels.”

The Syndicate will have five TVs: one 90-inch screen and four surrounding 45-inch screens. Other forms of entertainment will be found on the second floor.

“On the second level we’ll actually have three pool tables,” Reif said. “The pool tables will be UNT-branded, so you’ll have the screaming eagle on the pool table.”

Students walk past Union construction on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Meagan Dee Sullivan | Staff Photographer

New restaurants are coming to the Syndicate as well, and an expanded menu will be available at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. Two garage doors installed on the side of the building will be able to open on good weather days, allowing students to come and go.

Union directors are hoping to give one new restaurant in the building a “sports bar” vibe. Ideally, the project will be complete with a bar area and a stage where the One O’clock Lab Band will perform.

“[The bar] is set up with taps and a CO2 system so we could serve alcohol if we wanted, but we’re waiting on the president to let us know that,” Reif said. “If it doesn’t then we’ll just serve root beer out of the tap and keg system.”

Reif said the Syndicate would be able to serve beer on special occasions by getting a temporary liquor license. Although the decision to serve alcohol in the Union rests on the president, students are still voicing their opinions.

“I like the fact that I could have a drink after class on campus, and not have to deal with people on Fry Street,” 22-year-old alumna Sabrina Abdul Ghani said.

Others are less fond of the idea.

“Personally, I don’t drink because I am underage,” freshman Danielle Mayberry said. “But I think it could be a potential problem if people over 21 were buying beer for underage people like me.”

Whether the Syndicate serves Shiner or Barq’s, it will be a place for night owls to convene.

“If students want to be there and have this be kind of their sports bar that is open to 2 a.m., we’ll keep it open to 2 a.m.,” Reif said. “We have the ability to quarantine it off from the rest of the Union.”

Featured Image: Students walk near Union construction on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Meagan Dee Sullivan | Staff Photographer