Wednesday night, the Student Government Association at Wichita State University voted down a proposed fee increase that would facilitate the construction of a new on-campus YMCA.
The vote was one component of a larger debate around the student fees budget for the upcoming fiscal year, where argument was heard from both supporters and dissenters.
WSU student government president Joseph Shepard told kake.com, "We have a large portion of the senators who say, 'Hey, my constituents are in favor' and the other half are saying absolutely not. Then there's a small amount that's saying we need more time.”
The proposal, R-59-039 Support for Student Fee Increase for Campus YMCA, would raise student fees by $7.75 per credit hour, using the collected sum to fund the construction and operation of a 15,000-square-foot student wellness center.
Meanwhile capital costs for the 60,000-square-foot combined facility, featuring cardio, weights, fitness studios and drop-in daycare as well as student health and wellness services, would be shared by the YMCA and the WSU Board of Trustees.
WSU vice president of student affairs Dr. Teri Hall is holding out hope that the proposal will pass in a second-round vote, telling kake.com, "My hope is that students see this as a great idea and that we get to have a new fitness and wellness center on our campus.”
According to Hall, the wellness component of the new center may be overlooked in favor of focusing on the proposed fitness facility. “It's just not about the Y and a fitness center,” she said. “It's about how do we help our students be healthier, be more successful.”
