Despite Residence Halls Association’s declaration of support last fall for a proposal to include a consolidated fitness plan in next year’s residential fees, the IM Sports facilities have postponed actions to create a campuswide fitness service for students living in residence halls.
The plan, which was designed to improve safety and increase funding, would have charged students a flat rate of about $50 each semester through housing costs for access to fitness facilities in each neighborhood, as well as IM Sports-East, IM Sports-West and IM Sports-Circle. The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, passed a bill supporting the original proposal last fall. But because the university is concerned about the cost of living for students on campus, the plan to fund it through housing costs was not supported by administration, Recreational Sports and Fitness Services Director Rick McNeil said.
McNeil said he plans to find another way to fund the consolidation project, and he will meet with a planning committee in May to discuss alternative financial resources.
“The university is conscious of keeping the mandatory cost of education as low as possible,” he said. “The whole project is at a standstill until we can identify a funding source that is acceptable for students.”
However, some students are concerned delaying the plan might leave campus residence hall governments liable for any injuries incurred in residence hall fitness facilities.
RHA President Kelcey Gapske, a social work junior, said the fitness facilities in the residence halls currently are not at the quality the association would prefer them to be. If the plan had been approved, the fitness facilities would have been run by IM Sports.
Gapske said the student government in each residence hall manages the fitness facilities, such as Wonderbodies Gym in Wonders Hall, and is liable if anyone is injured while working out. The halls are not as safe as they could be because there is not always someone in the gym to monitor students who are exercising, she said.
“As far as safety goes, you have a resident that, if they were to hurt themselves, might not get the help that they need,” she said. “The satellite (locations) would be an improved fitness facility in each neighborhood and would be good for residents.”
Comparative cultures and politics freshman Emma Davis said she would be interested in an all-inclusive fitness plan that would allow her to work out at either the IM Sports facilities or the residence hall gyms.
Davis said she chose to purchase a membership at Wonderbodies Gym this semester because it was close to her dorm in Case Hall, and it was cheaper than an IM Sports membership. But she would have been supportive of a cost of living increase, depending on how much it would cost, she said.
“I don’t think I would mind — it would depend on how much it was,” Davis said.
“It would be nice because that would give me access to working out with more friends (at other gyms).”
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