tudent Government Association senators used the bulk ofWednesday's meeting to focus on their push for a new studentcenter.
The meeting began with a presentation on student recreation atBall State by Ramon Avila, George and Frances Ball DistinguishedProfessor of Marketing. Student senators discussed the concept ofadding a student recreation center to campus, possibly in a newstudent center.
Avila stressed that Ball State was behind the times in itsrecreation facilities. He said other universities have facilitiesthat are strictly for student recreational use only, and studentsdo not have to compete for those spaces with physical educationclasses or athletics.
"These places have rock climbing walls, roller blading andswimming pools with lazy rivers and slides," Avila said.
He said schools with more extensive recreation facilities hadstudents with better grades and lower rates of drinkingalcohol.
President pro tempore Ben Tietz said he saw the creation of anew student center as Tietz and other student senators traveled toBowling Green Nov. 21 to compare its student center facility tothat of Ball State.
"It makes our student center look very small, very old," Tietzsaid.
Senators who made the trip provided descriptions of thefacility, illustrated with a slide show of photos from thebuilding.
"When you walk in, there is a huge meeting place," Tietz said."I thought 'Oh my gosh,' people are sitting in the center."
The Bowling Green student center was described by the senatorsas having a large multipurpose room with stages, lights andspeakers for performances and banquets.
The Bowling Green student center also has a movie theater, aballroom and offices for student organizations, senators said.
President Jayson Manship said SGA is aware that there are otherprojects that are slated for completion before building a newstudent center is considered.
"We are trying to prevent it from being pushed down again,"Manship said.
Kay Bales, associate vice president for student life said a newstudent center is on the master plan, but will not be completeduntil 2006 or 2008.
Vice President Adam Ittenbach said the Dec. 10 meeting willfeature a rally for a new student center.
Ittenbach said after discussing legislation, senators will marchdown to the proposed site of the new student center, currently theparking lot between the Teachers' College and the Art andJournalism Building, to make students more aware of their push fora new student center facility.
Ittenbach called the event the Polar Bear Rally. He said BallState's WLBC radio station will be there and SGA has hopes ofgetting more people involved in the rally.
"This is to help rally support," Ittenbach said. "Our signs willsay 'We support our university in building a new studentcenter.
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