As most of the campus community knows, the Student Recreation Center has been searching for ways to correct its budget. It was fascinating to see so many ASUO Executive candidates come out to support the Rec Center this campaign season. Where did they stand prior to campaign season? Only one ticket showed dedication to the Rec Center prior to campaign season: Sara Hamilton and Athan Papailiou. And only one ticket worked with the Rec Center from beginning to end: Hamilton and Papailiou.
When concerns about the Recreation Center budget surfaced, Hamilton and Papailiou took proactive approaches to finding a solution. In fact, it was Athan Papailiou who originally authored Senate Bill 28, which took similar steps to advocating non-incidental fee funds to support the Recreation Center’s budget problem, as did the Bill in its finalized form. Bill 28 is not an end-all, but rather a necessary step in a plan to keep the Rec Center a service for students. Senator Papailiou has proactively searched for solutions to the Recreation long before campaign season.
Senate President Sara Hamilton sat in on numerous Rec Center budget committee meetings and repeatedly showed her concern by helping us find long-term budget solutions, for maintaining one of the most widely used facilities on campus.
Anyone on campus can show concern for issues that greatly affect student life, but the ASUO Executive needs people with a record of finding solutions. We care deeply about the recreation center and think it is a crucial part of campus life, Hamilton and Papailiou have demonstrated this sentiment through their actions. If elected they will help find a viable, long-term solution to fund one of the greatest resources on campus.
Brock Kirby
Student Recreation Center Advisory Board