Gym-goers have long described the University Student Recreation Center as cramped. But this year, record numbers of attendees are causing such congestion that some students describe certain times of day at the facility as unbearable.
“It’s a big deterrent. A lot of people stay away from here when it’s so crowded,” University junior Kenneth George said, barbell in hand, eyes scanning the overcrowded space of the rec center weight room. “I would definitely come a lot more if it weren’t so packed.”
Working out at 6:45 p.m., George described the scene as “rush hour” in the weight room. Students tap their feet and stare intently at one another, waiting for machines and equipment to become available. They grab weights and gingerly maneuver around each other in search of any available space, careful not to disturb one another’s bouts of physical endurance.
“Sometimes we’ll end our workout early if everything is busy and we don’t want to wait around,” George said. “We’ll just leave, which kind of sucks.”
And the cardio room is no different. Those wishing to run on a treadmill or climb an elliptical trainer are limited to 30-minute segments on a sign-up sheet that is often filled up with names well in advance. Samira Potts, a recreation center worker, reported some students coming in as much as seven hours early to secure a 30-minute slot on a cardio machine.
“They get a little miffed when they come in and nothing is available,” Potts said.
Considering the significant increase in facility use and student population in just one year, it’s no wonder some are exasperated. While the rec center can only comfortably accommodate 4,500 people, it is now common for more than 6,000 students, faculty and staff to use the facility in a single day, said Dennis Munroe, director of Physical Education and Recreation.
The rec center was used a total of 214,818 times last term — an increase from last year of approximately 14.5 percent.
However, this term specifically has seen a sharp increase in attendance. March 28 held a record number of 6,390 attendees, according to rec center records. Compared to the 5,626 visits on the same date last year, this represents a 13.5 percent rise in attendance.
“Sometimes people are mad, but there’s a point where it’s like I can’t do anything. I’m sorry it’s crowded,” said University student Austin Farrell, another recreation center worker.
Accommodating a high number of students at the recreation center has always been a challenge. Built in 2000, the current facility was left incomplete with the understanding that a larger project was necessary. When the building was finally finished, the massive influx of students quickly necessitated an expansion.
“We were outgrowing it almost as we opened the doors,” Munroe said. “We burst at the seams more acutely every day. It’s very difficult to accommodate the needs of students.”
In 2003, the Student Building Allocation Fee Committee prioritized funding to explore ways for the rec center to expand, resulting in a new design for a facility that could accommodate a rapidly growing student body.
The design included, among other things, racquetball courts, added gymnasium space, a larger pool with a hot tub and increased locker room space.
But the expansion remains unfunded, and slow to execute. Although the rec center is currently in the process of hiring architects, it does not expect to begin construction until fall 2014. And securing the necessary 60 million dollars needed means more legislative hurdles to cross.
“Unfortunately, currently enrolled students won’t get to enjoy it,” Munroe said. But “what you have to play on is the legacy that you as a student today … will leave behind.”
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Record numbers creating longer waits at Student Recreation Center
Daily Emerald
April 12, 2011
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