UNLV staff and student leaders unveiled phase one of the university's new student union in a special media preview event today. The union, a focal point of student life, is one of several major construction projects underway on campus as the university updates existing facilities to meet the needs of a larger and more-diverse student body. (View accompanying <a href="http://publicaffairs.unlv.edu/PDF/newReleaseRelated/MSU_Phase_One_Factsh... sheet<a/> for detailed information on phase one and two of the student union). Phase one will open to the campus community on Monday, August 7, 2006.

"We are extremely excited to bring this state-of-the-art facility online," said Dr. Rebecca Mills, Vice President for Student Life. "Features like modern, central facilities for student events, organizations and dining, along with high-tech advances like wireless internet access, create an ideal environment for the way students live and study today."

The new union will replace the Donald C. Moyer Student Union, which was built in 1968 when the university had fewer than 5,000 students. Construction of the new student union has been funded through student fees, and student leaders were heavily involved in decision making and planning related to the facility. When fully complete next year, the new student union will provide over 135,000 square feet of campus activity space, services, retail stores, meeting rooms and offices to the student body.