J. Wayne Reitz Union

The J. Wayne Reitz Union or just the «Reitz» as it’s known by UF students and staff is an amazing place.
I honestly cannot imagine the University of Florida without the Reitz. It’s just part of the Gator nation.
You can find absolutely everything at the Reitz, from crafts and such in the basement to the bike repair shop on the ground floor.
There are ATM’s, vending machines, plenty of places to eat (including Panda Express and even Pollo Tropical), study areas, UF’s bookstore, and even a hotel on the last floor. You honestly can’t ask for more.
If that’s not enough, the Reitz just underwent a huge renovation project which will expand it even further and bring new amenities, set to open in Spring 2016.
I absolutely love it here. I love that I have everything in one place, I love how convenient and clean it is, and I just love its vibe.

Finding a clean place to eat or study at Reitz Union Hall has become a real challenge of late. UF campus as a whole is one of the dirtiest I’ve ever seen. I did undergrad work in the Northeast at Purchase, and later at Wash U in St. Louis. Both schools had full time cleaning crews keeping campus livable. For all the money UF rakes in and all the Gator Nation pride you’d think they could keep a decent looking campus. Dirty, grimy and unsanitary. Shame on you UF.

UF’s hotspot, the main area where a lot of events happen — Gatornights, movies etc. There are multi levels and parking is available as well (which probably needs a Decal). It’s more like a maze as well, it is currently been renovated and I can’t wait to go back when it is done. Bookstore — goodies and books, atms eveything is available and couple of huge ballrooms are available.

Two levels of everything you can imagine for UF and preparing for school in general. They have the normal things you would expect: books for the classes they offer, office supplies, and gifts. What I did not expect, was an Apple section to test drive laptops! They have the store set up for guests that are not students as well. They offer a small book section that reminds me of Books — A Million that even has baby books and TVs so sit and relax.
When you walk upstairs you will find all the apparel. The have sports, game, casual and dress clothes. I was amazed at the selection.
I’ll be there quite a bit so I’m sure they’ll get more of my money!

This place is very spacious and it’s kept up to date with decorations and furniture. There’s a variety of food places and there’s a lot of places to sit down and talk. I like it there’s a lot of things to do

This is a state of the art Student Union, restaurants, fast food,.even sushi!

This is a very popular place around campus. Many of the different places to eat around the campus are all located with the Reitz Union. The bookstore is here, along with the computer lab, the student legal services office, the center for campus involvement and many more.
The place is the hub of everything that goes on around campus. It is also one of the first places that many people go when they tour the campus.
The bookstore has a wide variety of items that one can purchase. There is a little bit of everything.
The places to eat here range in options but don’t expect anything very healthy as they are fast food places.
The computer lab that is up on the third floor is free for students to use and each student gets 250 free prints each semester!

Good resource center.
Career services, SGA limited free printing, bookstore, and cafeteria.

You know, this place has a few things going for it that make it a win, and a few that are fail.
You can see the original 1960s-​ish bones here and there, but its been expanded and renovated enough that they have essentially ruined the original ambiance.
Wins: Arredondo Room is pretty cool. Too bad some idiot painted the exposed concrete textured wall. Some interior designers should be beaten for their stupidity.
The breezeway is a great student space — always busy with poster sales, groups tabling, and various protest whining.
The lower level that overlooks nature.
Fails: Epic food court that is waaayyyy to loud (seriously: Sound attenuation is just not that hard)
Parking: Just not enough to do the job. Plus, a convoluted traffic path that is counterintuitive and forces one through the damned bookstore.

I regret not spending more time here as a student. There are so many things to do here. You kind of forget you have homework priorities if you linger here too long.
But as I think of it now, I did spend my fair share of time there.
Gallery —
this small gallery still features talented student artists. I really enjoyed the exhibit they currently have. My favorite pieces are the photo series with the girl who is sleeping among her things, which signify her surroundings (i.e., in the kitchen, she is sleeping on the floor with pots and pans and cooking stuff around her). I also enjoyed the short excerpts of literature displayed at the very front.
When I went to school here, one of the pieces featured in this gallery was a painting of Dragonball characters and raw steak. :shrug: KamehameYUM? Lol
Colonade — This is one of the most trafficked areas. I don’t know if they still do the poster sales, but I remember buying a lot of cheap posters here. One of them was a Dali reproduction — The Hallucinogenic Toreador.
Food court — My favorite restaurants were Subway and Wendy’s and they didn’t have the Starbucks yet. Probably why I found myself at the coffee vending machines on campus a lot. This area has expanded immensely since my days. So much more to eat! And so much more coffee to pull all-​nighters. You all are so lucky!
Restaurant outside near the colonade — When I was there, it was a Tex-​Mex restaurant. I didn’t really catch what it is now.
Auditorium — where I went with roomie Diana to see a guy lecture about 80’s music. I also saw a foreign movie here with my friend Johnny. It looks like they still feature lectures and movies here.
Rion Ballroom — where I attended a Pinay concert and got their autograph and pics (you Cali people might know who I’m talking about). Also, where Devotion (another Cali R&B group) performed and a friend from ASU had asked me to model an outfit for a fashion segment for Asian Awareness month.
Games — I vaguely remember a bowling alley where you couldn’t smoke indoors, and it seems that they still have the DDR game like they did the last time I saw a glimpse of the Reitz many long years ago. I remember being able to buy glow stick jewelry from the gameroom back then, too.
2^nd Floor — where the Hip Hop Collective used to breakdance every week (when they first started) and I’d go home sore for 2 days afterward. Hahaha.
Art Underground —
an arts studio in the basement where I attended once and I threw (made) a pottery bowl and forgot all about it a week later. That throwing wheel was awesome, though.
Btw, to all you former UF students, the student bookstore is now at the Reitz, and no longer at the Hub. But that’s if you ever decide to go back to UF, or maybe just go there to check out the Reitz.