Atherton Refresh Second Edition

The following is an overview of new plans in motion to make Atherton Union a more welcoming space for students and administrators of Butler University.  

Maya Illanes | millanes@butler.edu 

Student Body President of Butler University, Cade Chezem, oversees a new look for the Atherton Student Union. The renovations to Atherton will benefit students, commuters, and administrators, creating a space where everyone can feel comfortable. 

Changes to expect are new carpeting, new furniture, and fresh paint coats. The Senate has passed that plants will be brought and has begun work with the company, “Engledow,” to bring in those plants. The plants will be maintained bi-weekly and are the first project already in motion for the new renovations. 

Room Atherton 002, located next to the diversity center, will get a completely new look. The current space is dark and small, and most students are unaware that it exists. It will be converted into a hang-out space similar to the Irvington community spaces, with a pool and ping-pong table to be installed. Chezem wants everyone on campus to have the opportunity for spaces they feel they can be in at any time, precisely spaces for “groups like commuters and students in the diversity center to call home,” (Chezem). 

A project passed last semester by the senate called “Project Aunt Flow” is being implemented as part of the new renovations. Aunt Flow supports a wide spread of women’s product accessibility in schools. These will soon be located in the Riley room bathrooms to advocate for menstrual equality for the general public. 

New art is in the process of being created to decorate the walls of Atherton union. There will be a timeline that describes Atherton’s history that will be on display. A contract with the Blice Edwards mural company has been drawn up for plans of a mural for the second-floor landing. The mural will feature students around Atherton and will be installed this summer. 

The Butler marketing department is also working on plans for Atherton’s renovation. They have drawn a mock-up design to wrap the elevators in the Butler theme. There is also work to create mounted displays on the walls to feature student activities such as the diversity center and greek life. 

The new plans for Atherton union are being implemented in phases and as materials are ready. The goal of the renovation is “to bring student life back into the student union… we want to make Atherton a place where all students and administrators can feel comfortable,” (Chezem).