Union University’s 197th Birthday: Continuing A Legacy

Union University served cake and ice cream in Brewer Dining Hall on Friday, Feb. 7, at 11:45 a.m. in celebration of its 197^th birthday.

This celebration took place a few days after the university’s actual birthday on Feb. 3. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, president of Union University, and Raymond Chahyadi, SGA President and junior economics major, led the students and faculty who were in Cobo in singing “Happy Birthday” to Union.

Afterwards, they both cut the first pieces of the celebratory cake, and Chahyadi was quick to admit that Oliver was better at cutting the cake than he was.

“I thought the cake and ice cream in Cobo was a great idea and such a fun way to celebrate Union’s birthday!” said Laila Al-Hagal, freshman digital media communication major.

Having seven cakes and eight flavors of ice cream for students to choose from, it was nothing short of a sweet treat. Students stood in lines, waiting for the delicious buttermilk icing and colorful ice cream.

“I think Union is worth celebrating not only because of its age but also because it shows how much of a legacy there is to this school,” said Chahyadi. “More importantly, it reminds us of our task to do the same and leave a lasting legacy to this school.”

A “legacy” is not composed of years, but instead, it is composed of leaders, dreamers, doers, artists, athletes, writers and scholars. A legacy is composed of people, and it is composed of those who have gone before the current Union community to blaze the path of becoming excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused and future-directed.

“College is such a formative time,” said Oliver. “For most people, college is either a greenhouse or a graveyard for their faith. At Union, we want to be intentional that it be a greenhouse for your faith.”