With Spring Break just around the corner, Ball State University students are starting to worry about how their beach bodies are going to look when they put on their new swimsuit. This attention to physical fitness inevitably leads droves of would-be beach goers to tanning salons and the Irving Gym.
What some students may not realize is, just like at the tanning bed, they will be required to pay a fee in order to use some of the Irving Gym services.
On Oct. 10, 2007, an opinion column was published in The Ball State Daily News titled "BSU Should Make Exercise Classes Free." It stated, "Many universities do not charge students or employees to attend these classes ... With tuition, students pay a small recreational fee, which gives them full access to Irving and Ball gyms, including the pools. This fee does not cover group fitness classes but they should."
A review of the general fees and tuition for 2007-2008 revealed no such fee. According to the Bursar Web site, the dedicated student fee is applied to student services such as athletics, the student center, student activities and Emens Auditorium. "In reality there is no fee earmarked as 'recreational,'" said Amanda Salyer-Funk, assistant director of sports facilities and recreation services.
The BSU recreation facilities see less than 1 percent of the dedicated student fees. This amounts to roughly $29,000 a year, which is divided annually among 28 active student sports clubs on campus. None of the $29,000 is used for the upkeep of facilities, staffing the fitness spaces, buying equipment or paying group fitness instructors.
Because of this lack of recreational funding, it is important that Irving Gym charges for the group fitness classes. The funding gained from these classes not only pays for the instructors but also helps with the upkeep of the facilities and buying new equipment. Ball State is actually providing a great service. Not every school is this generous.
For instance, at Indiana University, according to Darla Myers, administrative assistant of the director of campus recreational sports, IU students pay $42.58 per semester for a student activity fee. This fee is required of all students, even if they do not plan to utilize the gym. Similarly, at the University of Southern Indiana, all students are required to pay a $30 per semester activity fee.
According to Tarra Hodge, assistant director of fitness and wellness services at Purdue University, it is common for universities to charge for exercise classes. Purdue started charging its' students three years ago. The Ball State and Purdue method is simply more effective than schools like IU and USI because it allows students to only pay for what services they intend to use.
The Ball State Recreation Department is mindful of the services students use and has increased available class hours from 26 hours per week to 44 hours per week and added an aquatics class. These improvements were accomplished while maintaining normal class costs. On top of this progress, Ball State is planning a renovation to the Irving Gym facility to be completed in 2010, which will provide more equipment for students to perfect their body.
So, the next time you go to the gym to pay for a group fitness class, remember you are not only investing in yourself but also providing necessary funding for the facilities you use.
Sarah Payton is a senior public relations major and writes 'The Paytonater' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Sarah at sspayton@bsu.edu
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