1. What is the petition for a Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

2. Why do you need a Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

3. If you sign the petition, what will you gain?

4. If you don't sign the petition, what will you lose?

5. I’m graduating in a year and a half, I’m probably not going to be a student when the Student Recreation and Wellness Center opens it doors. Why should I invest my hard-earned cash on a building that I won’t be using? What’s in it for me?

6. Why can't the University pay for the proposed Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

7. How does the Student Recreation and Wellness Center fit into the University's master plan? What is the University master plan?

8. If the petition is approved, what is the timeline for this project?

9. How much is the proposed fee increase? How soon will the fee go into effect?

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1. What is the petition for a Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

The petition is a signature-gathering effort taking place this fall semester, that is designed to get student input on building a Recreation & Wellness Center here at San Francisco State University. By signing the petition, students will be able to indicate their support for building a Student Recreation & Wellness Center. It also confirms that they support an increase in the Student Center Body Fee to fund the cost of building and operating the Center. The petition is specifically for the Recreation & Wellness Center and should the signature gathering effort be successful, 100% of the fees collected will go to supporting the building’s construction and operational costs.

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2. Why do you need a Student Recreation and Wellness Center?

A Recreation & Wellness Center will provide students with more opportunities to get involved with activities on campus, while creating a more vibrant campus life. The current Gymnasium on campus does not provide the adequate space or time for programming and open use hours to meet the needs and requests of the current student body. The current Gymnasium is shared between Athletics, the Kinesiology Department, and Campus Recreation. A Recreation and Wellness Center would be for student use and student programs like concerts and events. This facility would provide students with times throughout the entire day to work out, swim, take a fitness class, play sports, or relax and socialize with friends.

Student Quotes (directly taken from the D&B survey):

 
“I think something like this would significantly enhance the ‘college’ experience at SFSU. As it is now, the facilities available are inadequate and outdated, resulting in a relatively dead campus, since there is not much to do to take a break from studying. I was shocked to learn of the ‘recreational’ facilities here at SFSU when I first arrived on campus as a freshman three years ago. I have seen far superior facilities at practically every other campus I've been to and even some high schools. I know that if this project is ever approved, it won't happen for a while. With that said, I see great potential in the current temporary library annex buildings. After the main library is up and running following the completion of the renovations, the library annex can be used to house a temporary recreation center for activities such as basketball and volleyball courts, free and machine weights, and cardiovascular equipment.”

“It's nice to see that our school is looking into creating a much needed space for students to gather, study, relax, and enjoy many important aspects of college life that is currently missing from our school. SFSU is a small campus for a large body of students, a college education is not only about showing up to class then going home, to complete the experience a student must communicate with other fellow students in a way different that through education alone. Plus, we need some green space to hang or study. Why can't we take over the adjacent golf course!”

“Why doesn't SFSU already have plans in the pipelines for this? I'm always at the gym on Van Ness and Post after moving off campus last semester (previously lived in University Park North). I feel like this would not only enhance my opinion of the school's gym, it is very practical and very much needed compared to every other major CSU. I'm not sure why the current weight room at SFSU is the size of my bedroom.”

“I think a comprehensive wellness center sounds amazing. I plan to attend SFSU for graduate school and would love to have an opportunity to use it. Having a great facility with lots of activities will draw in lots of on-campus life that other colleges have. Being a commuter school, SFSU lacks that campus life feeling, so having a wellness center would definitely be a nice place to go to. It will also keep students healthier physically and mentally.”

“SF State need to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for the students. Studies have shown that physically active individuals have lower stress levels, have better coping strategies, more alert and attentive in class, have better sleeping patterns, and improve overall happiness and have positive outlook on life.”

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3. If you sign the petition, what will you gain?

The much-needed Student Recreation and Wellness Center will enhance student life through student-operated recreational programs and services in an indoor activity space for SF State students and the campus community. The proposed fee increase will be used to fund the construction and operation of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

• Over 100,000 sq. feet of new recreation and activity space on-campus
• Approximately 17,000 sq. feet of state-of-the-art weight and fitness area, including cardiovascular equipment, selectorized equipment, and free weights
• Three multipurpose studios for group fitness classes (aerobics, boot camp classes, yoga, Pilates, etc.) and student club use (dance practice, activities)
• Two-court gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.
• Multi-activity gymnasium for campus events, conference space, concerts, indoor soccer, etc.
• Indoor jogging track
• Rock-climbing wall
• Two racquetball courts
• Hang-out spaces (student lounge, juice bar)
• Expanded wellness programming
• Indoor leisure pool with lap lanes
• More than 100 new student jobs
• Programs and services open during the day, evening, and weekends
• Alumni Membership Options

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4. I’m graduating in a year and a half, I’m probably not going to be a student when the Student Recreation and Wellness Center opens it doors. Why should I invest my hard-earned cash on a building that I won’t be using? What’s in it for me?

If you graduate before the building opens its doors, you will be able to use the facility.  SF State alumni will be permitted to use the facility at no extra cost for a specified length of time.  If you choose to continue your membership after it expires, a special reduced alumni rate will be established.

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5. If you don't sign the petition, what will you lose?

• You lose the opportunity to leave SF State with the legacy of creating a Student Recreation and Wellness Center that will be a visionary in student health, wellness, and sustainability.
• You lose out on the types of programs that could be available for students to be active, have fun, and socialize with friends.
• You lose out on the potential growth of programs like intramurals, fitness classes, open swim hours, open gym hours, and open weight room hours.
• You lose out on programs and services on weeknights and weekends for students.
• You lose out on 100+ potential student jobs

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6. Why can't the University pay for the proposed Student Recreation and Wellness center?

As with virtually all state-supported university systems across the country, non-academic facilities are funded through student fees. State dollars are only allowed to be spent on academic buildings.  The Student Recreation and Wellness Center is not an academic building. For this reason it must be paid for by using student dollars through student-collected fees.  By paying for the building with student fees, this means that it is a student-owned, student-governed, and student-operated building. Students will have a say in how the building is used and operated.  It is an opportunity to see your financial dollars at work.

The university is raising tuition and classes are getting cut. Why should I give the university even more money? It is important to note that if the petition is not approved, it does not mean that you will see more classes offered or a decrease in tuition.  Student funds and state funds are completely separate sources of funding and this facility would be solely supported by student funds. The creation of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center is an opportunity to create resources that the student body felt was lacking in the university. As an SF State student, you will see the direct benefit of your student dollars at work, as well as enriching your college experience.

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7. How does the Student Recreation and Wellness Center fit into the University's master plan? What is the University master plan?

The University Master Plan is the long-term goal and objectives for the build-out of the university through state funds. The master plan now includes the Student Recreation and Wellness Center located on the proposed site on the Northwest corner of campus, where the current Library Annexes are located. The university sees this facility as a necessary part of the university’s long-term future. The Student Recreation & Wellness Center will create a new front to campus, building stronger ties with the SF state student body and community.

For more information about San Francisco State's Master Plan, please visit:http://www.sfsumasterplan.org.

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8. If the petition is approved, what is the timeline for this project?

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9. How much is the proposed fee increase? How soon will the fee go into effect?

The proposed fee increase, which will be used to fund the construction and operation of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, will be implemented gradually over the next six years, beginning in the Fall of 2010 and continuing according to this schedule. The proposed fee beginning in 2015 will be $160 per semester.

Starting in Fall 2016, there will be an annual incremental increase of $3 per semester to compensate for the annual inflationary impact. This will assist in maintaining a constant funding level in real dollars

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For more information: Download SRWC Presentation PDF
Comments? Questions? Please contact us at info@studentrecreationandwellness.com.