Popp Martin Student Union celebrating 10th anniversary

August 28, 2019
Categories: General News Tags: Student Affairs

This fall marks 10 years since the Popp Martin Student Union opened its doors to the campus community. The Student Union’s first official day of operations was Aug. 24, 2009, and it immediately became the epicenter of campus life.

The $65 million, 196,000-square-foot facility is now home to more than 400 student organizations, and it provides a number of services and conveniences to the campus community, including a movie theater, an art gallery and retail and dining spaces.

“We aren’t the ‘new’ Student Union anymore, we are part of the student experience, and we need to reflect the modern needs of today’s students and the needs of the UNC Charlotte community,” said Morgan Meehan, director of the Popp Martin Student Union.

During its first decade, the Student Union has experienced numerous events.

In 2011, it hosted anchor and CNN special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, who shared her personal and professional experiences with more than 800 campus community members.

Demond Martin and Karen Popp

In 2013, it hosted the University’s first philanthropic dance marathon event called the 49er Dance Mine, where students danced for a continuous 12 hours to raise $35,066.25 as part of the national movement to generate financial support for local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

In 2016, the Union was renamed the Popp Martin Student Union to honor the dedication and service of two extraordinary alumni, Karen Popp ’80 and Demond Martin ’97.

With so much happening in the Student Union, it’s easy to forget how fast time flies. So, here’s a list of 10 fun facts to honor 10 years of the Popp Martin Student Union.

When the Popp Martin Student Union opened in 2009:

  1. UNC Charlotte’s enrollment was 24,701. It’s currently just under 30,000
  2. The Charlotte Hornets were still the Charlotte Bobcats
  3. UNC Charlotte didn’t have football and wouldn’t get a team for four more years
  4. The current freshman class (the Class of 2023) was entering the third grade
  5. President Barack Obama was only seven months into his first term
  6. Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” had recently passed away in June
  7. “Avatar” was the highest-grossing movie of the year, followed by “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
  8. “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas was the top-selling single on iTunes
  9. Apple had just released its third iPhone, the iPhone 3GS, in June
  10. “Modern Family” (September) and “Jersey Shore” (December) would debut on television

Photo: Karen Popp ’80 and Demond Martin ’97 at the naming ceremony in 2016.