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Salisbury University Walking Tour
Item 12 of 22
The University Center opened in 1988 and was dedicated as the Guerrieri University Center in 1991 after Alan and Patricia Guerrieri, who donated $1 Million to the school’s scholarship fund. Renamed the Guerrieri Student Union in 2017, GSU serves as a base for student organizations at Salisbury University and hosts campus and community events in its large social rooms. As of 1997, the Guerrieri Student Union is connected by a hallway known as “the link” to the Commons, Salisbury University’s main dining hall.

Patio seating for Gulls Nest, 2009

Patio seating for Gulls Nest, 2009

Campus entrance to the Guerrieri Student Union before it was renamed, 2009

Campus entrance to the Guerrieri Student Union before it was renamed, 2009

Guerrieri Student Union, 2009

Guerrieri Student Union, 2009

"The Link" of Nations, 2009

"The Link" of Nations, 2009

Center for Student Achievement inside GSU, 2010

Center for Student Achievement inside GSU, 2010

The Student Activities Office in GSU, 2010

The Student Activities Office in GSU, 2010

Chick-Fil-A in GSU, 2017

Chick-Fil-A in GSU, 2017

Cool Beans, 2018

Cool Beans, 2018

Pool Tables and Ping Pong Tables in Fireside Lounge, 2020

Pool Tables and Ping Pong Tables in Fireside Lounge, 2020

Fireside Lounge, 2020

Fireside Lounge, 2020

The Link of Nations, 2020

The Link of Nations, 2020

Entrance to the Student Union from Dogwood Road, 2020

Entrance to the Student Union from Dogwood Road, 2020

SU Information Desk, 2020

SU Information Desk, 2020

Entrance to Cool Beans, 2020

Entrance to Cool Beans, 2020

Entrance to GSU, 2020

Entrance to GSU, 2020

SGA Office, 2020

SGA Office, 2020

Artwork in GSU, 2020

Artwork in GSU, 2020

Tables in GSU, 2020

Tables in GSU, 2020

Commuter Lounge, 2020

Commuter Lounge, 2020

Foosball Table in GSU, 2020

Foosball Table in GSU, 2020

Fireside Lounge, 2020

Fireside Lounge, 2020

Gulls Nest, 2020

Gulls Nest, 2020

Gulls Nest, 2020

Gulls Nest, 2020

GSU, 2020

GSU, 2020

Plans for a student center to house all student organizations at Salisbury State College surfaced as early as 1981, when the Board of Trustees approved $600,000 for the construction of a new building. In 1983, it was decided the new center would be built in close proximity to the president’s house on the south end of campus. The Maryland Board of Public Works approved construction of the new building in the spring of 1986. The building would cost an estimated $9 million and funding would come mainly from fees collected from students, not state funds. The final cost of the new University Center would total $13 million.

The University Center is a brick, 80,000 square foot, two story building. It was built in a style similar to Holloway Hall with a sweeping façade, arched windows, and artificial chimney stacks. The building housed commuter and conversation lounges, The Pub (later Gulls Nest), a bookstore, a post office, counseling and placement offices, offices for the center director and dean of students, a game room, exhibition space, multipurpose meeting and board rooms, an office for the Student Government Association, and the student radio station and newspaper offices. The building was dedicated as the Guerrieri University Center, GUC, in 1991 after Patricia and Alan Guerrieri, who had donated $1 million to the school’s scholarship fund.

The Guerrieri University Center still operates at Salisbury University today, but with some changes. In 1997, the GUC was connected to the new dining hall, the Commons, by a hallway known as "the link." The link displays various sculptures as well as national flags from the home countries of SU's international students. Gulls Nest was relocated to the newly constructed Academic Commons in 2016 and renamed Hungry Minds Express, and the GUC snack bar area was converted into a Chick-fil-A. The building's other dining option is a cyber cafe, Cool Beans. In 2017, the University Center was renamed the Guerrieri Student Union. The Guerrieri Student Union continues to host, student organizations and campus events as well as community events in its Wicomico and Nanticoke rooms.

Bradley, Sylvia . Salisbury: From Normal School to University 1925 - 2001. Salisbury, Maryland. Salisbury University Press, 2002.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Nabb Research Center, SUA-031

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols

Jennifer Piegols