 "Photo: Courtesy of Home Energy Magazine")
For three years now, the Student Recreation Center (SRC) expansion project has been in the making. The Student Recreation Facilities Governing Board (RFGB) is currently working to address the requests of students to make the SRC bigger and better.
To many students' surprise, the price tag that comes with the expansion is approximately $144 to $159 per student every quarter. Although a 25 percent return to students' financial aid has been proposed by RFGB, it is still about twice the amount students now pay.
According to RFGB Chair Richard Zapp, the new fee will not be charged until construction is completed or when the doors for the new Recreation Center open.
Students have mixed reactions. For first-year chemical engineering major Diana Elazem, the expansion would encourage her to use the facilities more often.
"It would be worth it because it would encourage people to use the gym more. If they're paying for it, they're more likely to go," Elazem said. "Since they're expanding it, there would be more things for me to do there."
Some suggest that the expansion would be beneficial to all students not only because of the added equipment but also for new student employment prospects.
"I think it's a good thing because there will be a lot more campus jobs and it's for us, so it's for all students," SRC staff worker Steven Rodriguez said.
However, some students do not use the Recreation Center and believe that the expansion means an unnecessary addition to the fee hikes.
"For me, it's not a good deal because we need to pay more and not all the students have the financial ability to pay," second-year chemistry major Mary Baclayon said. "And I don't really go to the Rec Center."
Other students point out that there may be other, more pressing needs that the money could be channeled into at this time.
"I think we should save more money in the right places, like fixing the computers in our library or the broken desks in the lecture rooms," said second-year psychology major Alicia Lin.
In addition, students that are being surveyed about the expansion worry that they will not be able to use the new and improved facilities.
"By the time they're done [building it] I will have graduated. I'm just upset they're doing it now," second-year biochemistry major Julie Ann Lee said.
The proposal for expansion came about due to the increase in student population. The SRC was originally built to serve the student population of 11,000 in 1994. It now accommodates approximately 19,000 students.
"The weight room-not many people can use it because it's too populated," Zapp said.
Competition for equipment and space affects regular SRC users, causing them to avoid peak hours, specifically the 7 p.m. rush on weekdays, the time when most students are finished with classes.
"I try not to go at night because there are just so many people. The beginning of every quarter is when it's most hectic also," Lee said. "In the morning, it's pretty quiet though."
Surveys were held in 2008 and 2009 to see what students wanted. The results revealed that, out of the 10.4 percent of the campus population that was surveyed, 67 percent of students were in favor of the expansion.
The majority of students voted a swimming pool as the most desired amenity.
"We do know that the pool is the number one priority followed by making the weight room bigger and adding some more courts," Zapp said. "However, as far as the details of which will come first during construction is still to be announced by the architect."
The length of time for construction will be approximately two years, subject to change depending on variables such as weather.
So far, the board has passed the proposal. The next step is for Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) to vote on it, which will take place on Feb. 9, the next Senate meeting.
If this passes, then the ASUCR, then the GSA, the administration, Office of the President, Regents and students will then get the chance to vote.
Twenty percent of the campus population must vote and a majority must approve for the proposal to pass. If 20 percent of students do not turn out to vote, the referendum does not pass.
"It will be a good month or two until it comes back to the students. If by that time, everyone says yes, we start the campaign and students make their vote in April during the elections," Zapp said
Zapp emphasizes the importance of the student voice in determining the new changes.
"So mainly, it starts by students and ends by students. For right now all we want, even though some members of the board would like the expansion, is for students to vote, to let us know your opinions," Zapp said.
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