The site of the present Don Bottum Student Union served the university first as an athletic field. After World War II, President Henry A. Tape arranged for war surplus buildings to be moved to Marquette to serve as a temporary cafeteria and as apartments for single and married students. Fourteen trailer-type units were located in the present university center area. All of these units were for families. Single men were provided with four barracks-type buildings. Rent was set by the federal government and, for the first year, the college had to determine and charge for electricity usage for the forty-five units based on a single meter.