Student
survey says yes to recreation center
By
Cristina Madrid
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
The Senate Chamber brimmed at the doorways as students and Associated Students,
Inc. members gathered Wednesday to hear the Brailsford and Dunlavey company
present the results of the Recreation Needs Assessment survey conducted by
students last month.
Jeff Turner and Matt Bohannon, representatives from Brailsford and Dunlavey,
approached the podium, powerpoint presentation in the background, as they laid
out a detailed assessment of the recreation survey results.
During a two-week period in October, ASI sent 33,727 e-mails to students asking
them to participate in the Recreation Needs Assessment survey. Brailsford and
Dunlavey reported a 22 percent response rate among students.
“
This is the best response we have had in the history of Brailsford & Dunlavey,” Turner
said.
With 7,889 individuals responding, the numbers reflected a high-level demand
of 80.49 percent of students voting in favor of an on-campus recreation center.
Bohannon began the presentation by outlining the motive for constructing a
recreation facility.
“
The need for a facility like this [provides] students with a place to hang
out between classes and it gives a sense of school spirit and enhances community
ties,” he said.
The student survey results ranked cardio fitness machines, free weights and
weight machines as a top priority of the recreational facility plans.
Both representatives agreed that with the growing number of students attending
CSULB the initial plan of a 120,000 square foot facility was not enough.
“
180,000 to 200,000 gross square feet is what is anticipated, include[ing] a
30,000 square foot free weights area,” Turner said.
These plans for expansion do not help the large number of students who expressed
concerns of affordability as a main reason for opposing construction, Turner
said. Within the survey two cost plans were asked to be voted on by students.
Dave Edwards, associate executive director of University Student Union discussed
the two options, labeled A and B.
Edwards said both options would increase University Student Union student fees.
Option A, which included the construction of a 120,000 square foot facility,
would raise fees by $85 to $95. Option B, which included a the construction
of a 75,000 square foot facility, would raise fees by $55 to $65.
One question asked students “If you had to select one option, which option
would you choose?” The results reported 39.64 percent of students chose
option A, 40.85 percent preferred option B, and 19.51 percent chose neither.
A main concern of the company about the findings included an 80 percent “no” response
to the question “have you heard about a recreational facility before?” With
over a third of the students unaware of the current recreational activities
offered on campus, Turner recommended ASI slow the plans down.
“
The financial support is not there for a referendum,” he said. “Slowing
the issue would be a good choice, because most likely in the event that it
would be voted on now it would most likely fail.”
At the end of the presentation, Jamie Pollock, president of ASI, asked the
representatives for their advice as to when would it be a good time to bring
up the action again. Turner replied, “We are looking at a year or two
away.”
“
The purpose of the presentation measures the need, however, the fee support
wasn’t there,” said Joseph Baclig, chair of ASI. “We want
to make the recreational facility more of a topic of discussion on campus.
The education of the issue is something that [we] will take into consideration.”
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