San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

A.S. works kinks out of rec fees

Eric Huth, director of Rec Sports, answers questions about the proposed ARC fee.
KRISTIN SHEA/Daily Aztec

After its postponement three weeks ago, the fee structure for the Aztec Recreation Center was again considered at yesterday’s Associated Students council meeting. A vote on the fee structure could come at the next A.S. meeting on March 19.

The Associated Students originally reviewed the proposal at its Feb. 12 meeting and then asked Recreational Sports to make changes regarding fee-payment methods and intramural sports.

Eric Huth, director of the Rec Sports program, said students will pay $10 per month if they use the electronic funds transfer (EFT). In other words, each month $10 will be deducted from student checking accounts or credit cards. If students opt to pay with cash, they must pay $14 upfront and purchase a four-month membership. This is a change from the original proposal, which did not offer an option for students who wanted to pay with cash.

Huth said Rec Sports must require students to sign up for a minimum of four months because the program has to be able to predict how much money will be coming in. He discouraged students from paying with cash because Rec Sports cannot guarantee that the rate will stay the same. If students pay by the EFT method, their rates will not change. He said paying cash may decrease the number of students who return.

“Member retention is really the way the center is going to make it fiscally,” Huth said. He added that it will cost students more if they keep dropping out and signing up again.

Faculty and staff will pay $19 per month, and members of the community will pay $24 per month to use the ARC, which will open in June. Alumni who graduated after the $47-per-semester student activity fee was instituted in 1988-89 can use the ARC at the student rate. They just need to contact the ARC within a year from its opening.

Huth also addressed the rummored rec card fee increase. He said there is no such thing, as the current rec card will no longer exist when the ARC opens.

Instead of paying $25 per semester for use of limited facilities, students will pay $10 per month and have access to the 76,000-square-foot ARC, which includes a weight room, an aerobics studio, a 30-foot rock-climbing wall, basketball courts and locker rooms.

The ARC will also be open 17 hours per day, as opposed to the limited hours the current rec center in Peterson Gym is open.

“It’s not a fee increase because you can’t compare the old rec center to the new rec center. The ARC is more comparable to a premier health club,” Huth said.

Another change from the original proposal concerns intramural sports. At the Feb. 12 Associated Students meeting, a member of the council said he wanted to participate in intramural sports but didn’t want to pay for the ARC because he probably wouldn’t use it.

Huth said that if students want to participate in intramural sports but don’t want to use the ARC, they can purchase day passes, which will cost $5. If a student purchases five day passes, the sixth day will be free.

Huth said Rec Sports is also trying to decide on a spectator fee, which will probably be $1. He said spectators will probably go to the SAC to watch greek events, such as intramural sports.

Extra security might also have to be hired to ensure that students who don’t pay the entrance fee won’t use the equipment.

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A.S. works kinks out of rec fees