SDSU Wellness Center

[filbert]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

Students OK fee hike for SDSU rec center
Group proposed increase to ensure $12M building meets intramural needs

RANDY HASCALL
rhascall@argusleader.com

December 9, 2005, 2:55 am

South Dakota State University students are taking matters into their own hands in an effort to build recreation and wellness facilities they say they need.

The SDSU Students' Association will recommend to the Board of Regents next week that it approve a $12 million construction plan and support an increase in the general activity fee to help pay for it.

The university was proposing a $6 million project, but student leaders said that plan fell short of needs.

"We didn't think it was adequate based on campus needs," student President Ryan Brunner said. "We stepped forward and said we're willing to raise the general activity fee."




SDSU students are stepping up and doing there part in making SDSU a first class D1 campus. Hopefully other people will continue to step up as well.

Kudos and congratulations to the SDSU students!

[Alumguy]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

What the students have done with respect to the Wellness Center is truly historic. In the 125 year history of SDSU, only one other building project was spearheaded by student leaders ... that being Pugsley Union in the late '30s.

This is quite a deal.

[jackrabit1]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

It's about time they got the ball rolling on that... I remember voting for a $.50/hour fee increase back in 1995 to get the thing built.

I guess better late than never. ;D

[el_presidente]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

The Wellness Center passed the first phase of the Board of Regents this afternoon. The next step is that state legislature and then the March Regents meeting for final approval. This step was critical because it allows us to get legislative approval and still start in July, if approved. Otherwise we would be 1.5 to 2 years out. Next stop, Pierre.

[filbert]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

The Wellness Center passed the first phase of the Board of Regents this afternoon. The next step is that state legislature and then the March Regents meeting for final approval. This step was critical because it allows us to get legislative approval and still start in July, if approved. Otherwise we would be 1.5 to 2 years out. Next stop, Pierre.

Good deal! Thanks for the update . . .

[SD-STATE]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

Can someone clue me in on the reason for needing legislature and reagent approval? It is being paid for by the students and has been approved by student senate and the students themselves by petition. What position do they have wether or not we decide to build anything on campus?

[el_presidente]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

The Regents approve all fee increase regardless of what they are for. They also have to approve all program plans and facility plans before they go to the legislature. The legislature technically controls all universities and therefore approves any building project. That is the basics.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

The Argus has a very positive editorial on the SDSU student body and their innitative for the wellness center.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...512190309/1052

SDSU students step up nicely for rec facility

Article Published: 12/19/05, 2:55 am

Thumbs up to the Students' Association at South Dakota State University.

When members looked at plans for a new $6 million recreation and wellness facility, they found it lacking.

"We didn't think it was adequate based on campus needs," said student President Ryan Brunner. "We stepped forward and said we're willing to raise the general activity fee."

The association has recommended raising the activity fee $2.75 a credit hour - an additional $88 for students who take 32 hours a year. That would generate an additional $6 million and allow construction of a $12 million facility.

"They came out of the blue on this. It was truly a student initiative," said Michael Reger, executive vice president for administration at SDSU. "They literally came back and said the small plan isn't going to work."

So now, it looks like SDSU is headed toward a $12 million center.

Nice gesture on the part of the students.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

There is also a letter to the editor that chastizes the fellow voters for Sioux Falls voting down the rec center and praising the SDSU students for approving their innitiative.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...512190317/1053

SDSU sets example

Article Published: 12/19/05, 2:55 am

Shame on us, the citizens of Sioux Falls. We voted not to give the go-ahead to build a rec center for all of Sioux Falls to enjoy. Obviously, the students at South Dakota State University have the wisdom to endorse a rec center for their campus. Their students' association recommended a plan to increase the size of the proposed rec center by increasing their own student activity fee so they could have a facility that would meet the needs of the students.

Obviously, they realize the importance of physical activity at their age and they will probably value wellness all their lives.

On the same front page of the Argus Leader that carried SDSU's story was an article informing us that the life expectancy in the United States now is 77.6 years. This should give us all the more reason to have a rec center in Sioux Falls.

Let's get together as a community and revamp the idea for a rec center. Hopefully, we will be given another opportunity to vote on this issue and more people will approach the voting machine and say with strong conviction that yes, we do want to improve the health of our community.

Marlene A. Streitz, Sioux Falls

My comments:
I think there is a big difference here in that the innitative was approved by council action and petition whereas the issue in Sioux Falls had a public election and much more publicity.

Age has a bearing as does property tax that influenced the SF election. Some of the older people did not grow up in age of importance of physical fitness.

Over the past few years I have watched the turnout for SA elections and its not been real good. I think students are motivated to get that degree and probably do not pay as much attention campus issues like they should and the result is often small turnouts. Whether this possible apathy played a role or not I suppose there is not much evidence to support that conclusion.

When you get a old like me and hear about issues that raise property tax, you get involved and excited and turn out to vote. I think taxes was an issue in the minds that voted in Sioux Falls.  Despite maybe a hip and knee replacement, some of these same voters felt a rec center was not needed for Sioux Falls. ;D Ironic to say the least.

I dont know what percent of the SA signed the petition but it kind of a drill in political science. Dont get me wrong, I am happy with the decision the students made.
I think comparing the issue in SF with the campus one is interesting.

[el_presidente]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

Over the past few years I have watched the turnout for SA elections and its not been real good. I think students are motivated to get that degree and probably do not pay as much attention campus issues like they should and the result is often small turnouts. Whether this possible apathy played a role or not I suppose there is not much evidence to support that conclusion.

I dont know what percent of the SA signed the petition but it kind of a drill in political science. Dont get me wrong, I am happy with the decision the students made.
I think comparing the issue in SF with the campus one is interesting.

Your right about comparing the issue. The Sioux Falls rec center was also 36 million I think. That is 3 times the size of our 12 million. The SDSU one is very practicle and includes specific things based off of campus programs with high participation.

On the note of SA elections voter turnout was 21% last year which is up from 19% the year before. This means roughly 2000 students voted in a highly advertised campaign where senators from every college ran and had voting efforts. That is why the students' association did a signature campaign. 2771 students signed the petitions. This is 771 more people who signed in support then would have even voted in a highly advertised election. UND did a student vote for their wellness center that passed "65% to 35%" Sounds great except only like 1400 students out of 16,000 voted. Petitions get a better response plus you have a chance to explain to students why they should support it.

We also presented to several groups on campus to get the word out and the Collegian ran two front page articles. We now have time before the March meeting to continue generating support from students.

Anyways thats just a little bit of the political history.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

Thanks so much el presidente as your explanation gives a better understanding as to why the petition route was chosen. It would appear with the turnout trend, the issue if put to a vote would have overwhelming passed. Either way, the students have done their part and congradualations are certainly in order.

I am shooting in the dark but I suspect many of the no votes in SF came from over 60 age brackets, which is too bad in some ways. These are the knee and hip people who get this medical care under medicare for little or nothing. They dont seem to understand the value of prevention which would include a rigerous rec program daily that could be aquired with a rec facility.

Yes I would agree 36 million is a lot of bucks and I am not sure what was all contained in that project.

[el_presidente]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

USD is now considering building a wellness center. Here is the article in the Volante:

Home > News
University considers new gym
Center would be Dome alternative
By: Danny Rapinchuk and Jeremy Hoeck
Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: News
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

An organizational and planning committee is set to poll students' demands on a possible wellness center starting this fall, said Greg Redlin, vice president of finance and Administration.

According to Redlin, the university does not have a sufficient wellness facility at the DakotaDome for students, and with the current situation with the Continuing Education building, it may give a new facility a chance.

"We took a look at the Continuing Education building and the ideas for possible uses," Redlin said. "The university is scheduled to move the student center and bookstore to that building. Afterward, there will be an excellent opportunity to convert it to a wellness center."

Having already found homes for the Continuing Education staff around campus, the building will be available for renovation after the new student center is finished being built. The building would then be renovated to accommodate an aerobics room, weight room, juice bar, administrative offices and lockers. And while these short term additions are only in the discussion stage now, Redlin hasn't ruled out the possibility of future additions to the Continuing Education building itself, including a full gymnasium, pool, track and a rock climbing wall.

Redlin said the Continuing Education building being empty was a perfect opportunity for a new wellness center.

"We don't have sufficient wellness facilities at the Dome, and we need to expand wellness on campus," Redlin said. "Also, the availability of the building as well as the ideal location played major roles."

Redlin believes the Continuing Education building, which is located west of the North Complex, could help provide services to the campus' largest base of residents. Also, a parking lot due west of the building would be convenient for those not located near the North Complex.

The addition of a wellness center would benefit USD in many ways, Redlin said, going beyond current students to those who may consider USD in their future.

"Wellness is in great demand by current and future students," Redlin said. "We could increase quality of campus life as well as increase our profile as a recruiting tool for students."

Reach sports editor Jeremy Hoeck at Jeremy.Hoeck@usd.edu.

Reach reporter Danny Rapinchuk at Danny.Rapinchuk@usd.edu.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

What I find totally amusing about USD, is their ability to play copy cat. Something good happens at SDSU, they feel compelled to copy cat. This is good for the students, but the copy cat is there. ;D

[joeybrownerhof]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

What I find totally amusing about USD, is their ability to play copy cat. Something good happens at SDSU, they feel compelled to copy cat.  This is good for the students, but the copy cat is there. ;D

I would like to congratulate el presidente and others for their hard work getting the wellness center going for State, however the U is not being a copy cat as SDSUfan states. The administration and students have been pushing for the C. Ed. to be turned into a wellness center for the last 5 years. I think what Redlin is trying to do is more of riding the wave that State created to get their own iniatitive passed. Congratulations again on getting yours done.

[el_presidente]

Re: SDSU Wellness Center

I think what Redlin is trying to do is more of riding the wave that State created to get their own iniatitive  passed.

He is right. According to the USD SA President, USD pushed off the wellness idea to do their student union. Their wellness project has been around awhile. However, our wellness center has been around for 14 years. Being "around" doesn't mean getting done. I think they are trying to use the "wellness" wave to finally get their project going.