The Michigan Union banner is available for one week at a time. The SORC conducts a lottery each semester for the banner space. Only groups with events in conference rooms in the Union are eligible for the Union banner lottery. Click here to see a list of the current status for the semester.

 

Lottery

Because of the high demand for the Michigan Union banner space, a lottery is conducted at the start of the fall and winter semesters. Summer availability is open, by request; contact The SORC manager for availability.

 

Full details of the lottery are explained in a group email, which is sent several weeks before the lottery deadline. To get on The SORC's mailing list, click here.

 

Winners of the banner lottery will be posted immediately on the day the drawing is completed. First and second place winners will be promptly contacted by e-mail. Winners must accept or decline the space no later than 3 weeks prior to the start date.

 

The banner is reserved for Michigan Union use for major campus programs during a few weeks of the year:

• Art Fair (mid-July)
• Welcome Week (late Aug / early Sept)
• Parents weekend (October or November)
• Commencement (late April)

Eligibility

In order to use the Union banner space, the event for which you wish to advertise must be in a conference room in the Michigan Union. All other basic SORC eligibility requirements apply.

Content Requirements

Content requirements are extensive, so winners are required to meet with the manager 2-3 weeks prior to their start date to purchase the blank banner and/or discuss content and construction requirements.

Construction Guidelines

Banners must be 24 feet long and be printed on extra-heavy duty banner material, which is available at The SORC. The Union banner is held up by a cable with clips that attach to the banner along the top edge and on the four corners, so grommets must be spaced every two feet along the top as well as the four corners. There must also be a single grommet in the center of the banner on the bottom edge, where a clip is attached to prevent the banner from flipping over itself (you'd be surprised how great an impact the wind has on the banners!). A fully-grommeted, blank, white Union banner costs $102.00. Fifteen to twenty 1-foot crescent-shaped slits must be cut in banners to allow airflow. More below.

Making the Banner Yourself

Allow at least 16 hours for design, creation, preparation, and drying time (8 hours). Recruit help, and do not procrastinate.

Professional Sign Companies

The SORC staff can recommend a local professional sign company that can produce a vinyl banner in a matter of days. Their banners are of very high quality and look spectacular, but you should expect to pay $400.00 or more. This is a worthwhile investment if you have an event that takes place every year in the Union and would like to re-use your banner.

Space rental

Weekly space rental for student organizations.....$30.00

Weekly space rental for university departments.....$60.00

Rental fee includes placement and take-down charges.

Deadline

Union banners go up and come down on Mondays unless weather

conditions prohibit safe placement. Completed banners must be

brought to The SORC before 10.45 PM on the Sunday before they

are scheduled to go up. Ventilation slits must be cut and the

banner must be completely dry prior to submission.

 

Fifteen to twenty 1-foot crescent-shaped slits must be cut

in banners to allow airflow. Failure to cut these slits will delay

placement of your banner. Cut these air holes after you color

the banner. This is how your Union should look when it is complete:

 

Prices