Proposed
center provides fun
By
Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Associated Students Inc. is in the process
of trying to implement a new student recreation
center that would give Cal State Long Beach
students a basketball gym and indoor soccer
field.
The student recreation center also plans
to offer a weight room, suspended running
track, aerobic room, wellness center and
pool. In addition, the cost for membership
would be free because the cost would be
included in the tuition.
“Instead of students having to pay a considerable
amount of dollars to use Frog’s [Athletic
Club], students would be allowed to use
a recreational center that is intended and
dedicated for the students,” said A.S.I.
President Danny Vivian.
The center is a project that has been in
planning for approximately one to two years,
Vivian said.
In order for the student recreation center
to begin construction, its referendum must
win a majority of the votes in the student
senate. Then, a majority vote by the student
population must be attained for the student
recreation center to be finally approved.
The location will be on east campus near
the Engineering buildings. The location
is appealing and convenient because it would
be close to the new parking structure that
is planned.
The recreation center will be student operated,
providing employment opportunities and internships
tailored for students who are majoring in
subjects such as recreation and kinesiology.
“Having a recreation center in our campus
would enhance my experience in majoring
in recreation,” said recreation major, Brett
Mars.
The recreation center would also be another
alternative from the physical activity facilities
that the campus already has. However, access
to campus facilities has too many restrictions,
Vivian said.
“The campus’ facilities are geared towards
classrooms first, athletes second, recreational
clubs third and the students last,” Vivian
said. “Therefore, the student recreation
center will give students the opportunity
to use the recreation center whenever they
please in their busy schedule.”
The recreation center would add another
highlight to the campus, according to Wayne
Stickney-Smith, former committee member
of the student recreation center referendum.
Also, the center would be a tool that could
recruit star students that contemplating
to come to CSULB.
“Many university campuses have a recreational
center, so it would be vital for us to have
one to be up to par with top-ranked national
schools,” Stickney-Smith said.
“If the student recreation center referendum
passes the student senate and achieves a
majority of the votes by the student population,
the construction is expected to begin by
fall 2003 and will be finished by spring
2004.
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