Bermudez: The Sky's the Limit

Carolina Union Board of Directors Chair Jordan Bermudez has big goals for the 2018-2019 school year.

A senior exercise and sports sciences major from Durham, Jordan has been involved with the Carolina Union since her first year at UNC, previously serving as the president of its Activities Board (CUAB). With this experience, she has seen the potential of the Union to support student goals and provide a safe space for conversation and development.

Bermudez highlighted the celebration of the Carolina Union’s 50th anniversary, an update to the Union auditorium, and increasing student awareness of the Carolina Union’s services as her major goals for the year.

She hinted that students should be on the lookout for 50th Anniversary events with great giveaways. “Expect random pop-up events where we give away 50 items. Campus Y is one of our partners, so it might be a Campus Y event where we show up with 50 items (to hand out),” she said.

Major renovations to the auditorium are a big focus for Jordan this fall. “It’s one of the highest usage spaces in the Union,” she said. “With orientation and diversity and inclusion programs, it’s the front door of campus in a lot of ways, and one of the first places a lot of students see. So being able to revamp it, make it look innovative, and really feel like Carolina is what I hope to do.”

Bermudez also oversaw summer improvements to the Carolina Union, and has noticed that students seem to appreciate the building’s new look.

“We’ve gotten to unveil the new updates to the West Lounge and the Aquarium Lounge,” she said. “The Aquarium Lounge has been full since the day we opened so everyone has enjoyed getting to try out the new recliners and rocking chars.”

Bermudez additionally described the Carolina Union’s importance in facilitating student discussion and healing in the wake of events such as the toppling of Silent Sam: “The biggest thing the Union can be is a safe space for students to come and know that they can talk about the issue with other students, administration, and faculty and feel like their voice is being heard,” Bermudez said.

Above all, Bermudez wants students to know that the Carolina Union is a building for students, by students.

“It is the one building on campus that you completely pay for and honestly, in my opinion, have the most control over,” said Bermudez. “The sky’s the limit on what you can do here.”  

Check out extended excerpts from our interview below.