By Ana Breton

Tucked away two feet inside the fireplace outside of the Union building, lies a box of memories, dreams and a can of cougar soup.

The new Union time capsule was finally buried on Wednesday as current and former U students, staff and administration watched it being place away in a small one foot by foot to be opened in 50 years.

“I’m delighted to be here and reminisce for this special occasion,” said U President Michael K. Young to the small crowd during the cold winter morning. “It’s a great way to memorialize a great building.”

The time capsule, a medium-size copper box, contains items varying from the Union mission statement to Young’s inauguration address to a Crimson View Bistro menu and an empty can of “Cream of Cougar Soup,” using during rivalry week.

Other items include a 9/11 essay and remembrance quilt, an issue of The Daily Utah Chronicle and a canister of hair from the UPC directors with an accompanying note that said, “Clone us!”

During his speech, Young asked the crowd to if they kept any sort of blog or journal. After several people raised their hands, Young asked them to “go home and write down where the time capsule was buried.”

Young mentioned this because finding the original time capsule buried when the Union building was opened 50 years ago was not so easy.

The Union board spent more than seven months looking for the copper chest in several places in the building. Because records and pictures of the original time capsule were sketchy, the board had a hard time finding it.

However, after clues from alumni and help form X-ray machines, the capsule was found in the outdoor fireplace.

Although she is happy the search is over Sheri Young, administrative assistant to the Union director said she would always remember it.

“We spent a year planning this event,” she said. “It’s in my blood now.”

Union Director Whit Hollis had some predictions about what the Union building would look like in 50 years.

“I think this building will be gone,” and there’ll be a new state-of-the-art building in it’s place,” Hollis said.

Sheri Young also said the event made her reminisce about what life would be like in 50 years.

“I’ll probably be dead,” Sherri Young said. “But I’m fine with that.”

Lennie Mahler

The 2007 Union time capsule waits to be placed in a hole near the fireplace of the Union Patio at Wednesday’s ceremony.