As FAU’s self-appointed, unofficial mascot, I’m throwing up the chant sign, running around like a freak without a leash, encouraging students to make some noise about the proposed plans for FAU’s first Student Wellness Center. Right now is the right time as Senate Speaker David Johnson and his student government crew (along with university officials) have just begun starting to narrow down decisions. These decisions are concerning where the Center will be built, what it will contain, and how it will be funded. I really want to encourage students to give us their input,” Johnson said. Like the branding process this past semester, Student Government is considering placing a survey on MyFAU to allow students a chance to be heard. FAU is the only major Florida university that cannot boast a state of the art center for students and faculty to socialize and workout in the true spirit of higher education. Our current student workout facilities are sorely cramped. While talk has circulated for over 15 years about building a Student Wellness Center, only after Student Government decided to allocate $6.3 million in CITF funds this last Fall, has the project become a reality. “Student Government is really interested in pushing these plans to completion,” Johnson said. “But, as always, it’s a complicated process.”
So, let’s take a look at the plans so far:
WHERE: Johnson says that most universities have logically located their centers around athletic fields, so they are considering placing it in and around the soccer fields off of Glades Road at the southwest entrance near I-95. The problem is that those fields are leased out to the County until 2010. “So to put it there,” Johnson said, “We might have to consider dealing with the county to let us get full use of that area.” The next option – with less contractual hassle – would be to locate it near the gym and the Oxley Center where the track fields are located. This might be the easiest move but it places the center far away from dorms and student life.
The third option is to place it around the UC by tearing down some of the older dorm facilities.
“This would place it closer to students on campus,” Johnson said. “But parking would then become more of an issue than the other locations.”
WHAT:
For sure, Johnson says that the facility will contain cardio and weight workout equipment and raquetball courts. But as for the specialties and features that can make our center unique, plans are in their infancy stage. “We’ve got some drawn up plans from past initiatives towards this project,” Johnson said. “But they were made with a proposed budget twice our current size.”
This is where students really need to speak up. Eastern Michigan University has an ice skating rink, UF has a rock climbing wall. We need to be sure to have something that makes FAU’s facility da bomb! I see a boxing rink where our new FAU fraternities can pound each other’s heads in before a Friday night out on the town. I see an indoor skate park where punk bands can jam on a Saturday night. Other ideas include a smoothie/sandwich bar to wind down at after an hour or so of pumping. It’s vitally important that students express their desire for a unique facility and not just a workout room. The money is there to make these ideas a reality. A sauna? A lazy river? Waterslide? Current budgetary concerns will probably negate any kind of water facility or pool for now. But it can’t hurt to make a proposal.
HOW:
It’s a shame that students have to spend $60 to $70 a month to work out at places like Gold’s Gym,” Johnson said. “One of our main concerns is to make the facility absolutely free for students to use.” Future CITF funds could allow for this, while Johnson doesn’t rule out other possibilities.
Regardless of how funding is acquired to keep it free for students, the center will obviously open up opportunities for student employment. Also, new sports related majors may be able to be launched here at FAU. So, that’s the lowdown from our Senate Speaker David Johnson on where we are at. I encourage students to contact Student Government if they have a good idea or concern.
