Grappling With Debt, RSF Raises Fees $20

The Recreational Sports Facility plans to raise student membership fees to $65, an increase of $20, for the spring semester.

Facility officials said they were placed in a sticky situation with the pressure of grappling with a $4.7 million deficit accumulated over the past two decades and paying for maintenance for a 21-year-old building.

The decision to double the fee, instead of issuing a $10 increase as officials have in the past, came after the failure of previous increases to pay for necessary costs, said RSF Director Mike Weinberger.

"No one likes rising prices, and I don't think people will be overjoyed, but I would hope they'd understand we are trying to keep them as low as we can," Weinberger said.

An electronic survey of gym members earlier this semester was used in deciding how to approach the revenue problem.

With 25,000 respondents, the survey posed three scenarios: not to raise fees and make cuts in service, to raise fees by $15 with a few cuts, or to increase fees by $20 while maintaining service.

Nearly 54 percent of students were in favor of the fee increase, while 22 percent indicated they preferred the increase with minor cuts, he said.

"We spent a lot of time reaching out to students because we wanted to fit their needs, and that's why we are going with this strategy," he said.

Facility officials will also eliminate gym waivers for Pell Grant recipients this spring and limit waivers for physical education students to class hours.

The Strawberry Canyon Recreational Area pool will also be shut down instead of the pool at the Golden Bear Recreation Center during the winter season.

"Since the Strawberry Canyon pool is bigger, it costs more to maintain and keep warm so we are switching," he said.

Officials are preparing for a minimal drop in sign-ups, but Weinberger said he is hopeful a regular amount of members will return.

"I would expect some drop as with any fee increase, but as people look at alternatives, they may see that this is still a good deal," he said.

Fifth-year senior Satgur Khalsa said he was disappointed but did not blame the facility for the increase.

"It sucks, but membership at a regular gym is so much more than the RSF and they do everything they can to keep prices down," he said.

Freshman Lauren Apter disagreed, saying she would not mind sacrificing the programs even though she frequents the gym nearly every day.

"I didn't like a lot of the exercise classes I tried and would prefer to eliminate programs than pay an increased membership due," she said.

Apter said the rise in price would make her think twice before signing up, especially after considering the costs of school.

"The increase might prevent me from joining again. I would have to see after buying books," she said.

Tags: