The Student Union's roots stretch way back to 1935 when this campus was still occupied by St. Dunstan's University. In fact, what we currently know as the Chaplaincy Centre was built as the very first Student Centre. By 1970, students at the recently renamed University of Prince Edward Island had outgrown their cozy little building. Yearning for more space to increase our offered services, the University gave the old cow barn (located beside the current CARI pool) to the SU as a temporary Student Centre. It quickly became known as "The Barn". 

For those of us lucky enough to hear stories about this building, we know it was home to the Panther Lounge and many, many "Pig n' Whistles". It was also home to a student cafeteria (this was before Chartwells time), a games room that housed the much loved Pacman, a bookstore and UPEI's first daycare. 

In 1990, twenty years later, the Student Union decided they had finally outgrown their temporary location and began the planning of a new student centre. In 1997, the current site of the National Research Centre was proposed by the University and accepted by the SU as the new location. Building plans and budgets were rolling right along for a very, very different student centre along the back of campus until 1999. 

Enter President Wade McLauchlan. 

In 1999, UPEI approved fundraising for the new Student Centre and wondered why in the world we were willing to be stuck at the back of campus when we should be front and centre? Under President McLauchlan's leadership, University amenities such as: Student Services; the Bookstore; the Co-op Program; the Health Centre and the International Office were included in the Student Centre planning and the SU was offered the old Alumni Gym site on which our building currently sits. 

Eager to do their part, the province of PEI generously contributed $1 million to the almost $2 million raised by students, faculty, staff and alumni of UPEI. 

By 2001, the W.A. Murphy Student Centre was ready to open its doors to all of UPEI and continues to do so today. 

Did You Know...

...the Student Union started the first daycare at UPEI which was later restructured and improved by a co-op of parents in the shape of Campus Kids

...Mickey's Place (coffee & sweets kiosk) was originally intended for a pizza vendor

...there was a 2 quarter limit for the popular Pacman game in The Barn

...The Wave was almost named "The Cage"

...the Barenaked Ladies played at The Barn for $200 (and slept on the floor!)

...there was a foam party in The Barn

...the "green room" for bands playing at The Barn were the offices of the SU Executive

Do you have any "did you knows" to add? E-mail suggestions to vpcommunications@upeisu.ca