Chris Banyas
Staff Writer
ISU’s Student Union Building is like a giant russian nesting doll. Every layer that is popped apart and peeled back reveals a new and exciting service or area to explore. Freshmen inherit this doll at the beginning of their college careers, and it can take years for them to fully explore it.
A bowling alley is inside a cafeteria, which is inside a community center surrounded by meeting rooms, offices and the Campus Connection desk.
Somewhere along the periphery of the doll are three hotel rooms. They are located on the top floor, hiding in plain sight.
These rooms have been in use for more than 50 years, since the building was originally constructed, and through the many additions and updates.
“They are available to anybody, but the majority of people who use them are students. We have a lot of commuters on campus…and during finals week sometimes when those commuter populations have a large number of finals going on down here, they’ll just book those rooms for the entire week,” said Heidi Oliver, of Scheduling and Event Services.
The rooms cost $25 per night for students and $38 per night for anyone else. Also included, for no extra charge, are spectacular views of the surrounding campus and landscape.
The rooms are often used to house visiting relatives or parents of students, as well as for individuals brought in by different departments of the college, such as guest lecturers or even researchers.
“We have a pretty steady log of guests. The hot dates like dead week and finals week, those book up pretty fast,” said Oliver.
The rooms are spacious and well maintained. Each contains a microwave, mini fridge, television and two comfortable beds and furniture.
“People who overnight in the Union will find that this building shuts down after midnight. There are no services available to them after that time. So it is a little bit different, it’s a little bit unique. But it’s also kind of cool to stay in a place where you can go down at 10 o’clock and see a movie at night and all you have to do is go back upstairs,” said Oliver.
Hotel rooms intended for student use are not exclusive to the SUB. The West Campus Apartments also have rooms available.
Anyone interested in these hotel rooms should contact the scheduling and services department at 282-2297.
The hotel rooms located at the West Campus Apartments are handled through University Housing. Information about these rooms is available at 282-2120, or by emailing ude.usinull@efilser.
