For over a century, each student at UT was assigned a distribution box, by which important notices or official correspondence was transmitted to students. A distribution box area was built into the university center, but in 1957 the area was renovated into the Crest Room because notices were sent to the students’ on-campus residence hall … Continued

The recreation center, Down Under (in the university center) opened in 1954 with four bowling lanes and a separate billiard area. It was expanded in 1967 to include the 12-lane William B. Stokely Memorial Bowling Center and added additional pool tables, video game consoles (later replaced by Xbox 360 stations), darts, football, table tennis, and … Continued

In fall 1987 a new, domed entrance to the center from the garage plaza was constructed to widen the doorway to accommodate higher traffic and to resolve issues for handicapped students. In addition, the project corrected problems with water intrusion related to the condition of the previous door and entryway. Piks Contracting of Knoxville was … Continued

In 1961 a giant redwood (Sequoia Gigentea) was planted in front of the university center to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Cherokee leader, Sequoyah, who devised the Cherokee alphabet. Mrs. Sidney H. Ruskin of Atlanta gave the tree. President Holt presided at the installation ceremony, joined by six faculty and staff … Continued

Early in the fall of 1954, the new student center opened a music lounge—named in honor of the granddaughter of Carolyn P. Brown, who was adopted by benefactor John Scruggs Brown. Barton died in 1947. In 1968 an expanded music lounge opened, which continued to be named for Barton. Three music-listening booths allowed students to … Continued

In 1954 the Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternity (then, limited to men) gave $1,000 to purchase the five-foot chandelier that served as an especially large lighting fixture in the main stairwell of the university center. In January 1955 the chandelier fell and was repaired and rehung.

See Greenwood, Marion; Mural—Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center Ballroom.

The University Center Board, advised by UT history professor Stanley Folmsbee, selected names for various parts of the renovated and expanded building in 1968. The former bookstore location became the Cherokee Lounge; the seminar room became the Shiloh Room; the auditorium became the Tennessee Auditorium; and the meeting rooms located in the central part of … Continued