Spring Break
Exercise right to vote in this week's elections
Ben Misley and Miles Dodge
Issue date: 5/18/09 Section: Forum
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, students will have the opportunity to approve or reject over $10 million in projects that would transform student recreational facilities on campus for decades.
The projects on the ballot were selected on the basis of a student survey during Winter quarter, and over 2,600 students signed a petition to request the election. This week's election is the final step in the process and the ultimate opportunity for students to decide whether or not these proposed projects will become reality. We want you to vote in the election, but more importantly, we want you to cast an informed vote.
A "yes" vote will approve two major projects to improve Recreational Sports facilities: the Outdoor Recreation Complex and the McAlexander Fieldhouse Renovation.
The Outdoor Rec Complex will involve upgrading the intramural fields across from Dixon to include all-weather synthetic turf, lighting, new tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a park-like barbecue area, approximately 30 permanent parking spaces, walkways, trees and natural landscaping. The complex will also include an event management pavilion with restrooms.
The McAlexander Fieldhouse Renovation would involve the replacement of the turf and court surfaces with modern, safer flooring, climbing equipment, a challenge course, upgrades to restrooms, lighting and acoustics so the 30,000 square-foot facility can be used for concerts and other major events.
If students vote to approve the projects, construction is estimated to be substantially complete by fall 2010.
These projects are, of course, not free. They would be financed by $10.7 million in bonds, which would be paid off by an increase in student fees. We estimate that this increase would be $17 per student, per term, but it may be higher or lower depending on the interest rate at the time the bonds are sold.
The $17 estimate is based on a six percent interest rate, which is conservative compared to recent higher education bond sales that sold for less than five percent. The fee will begin in fall 2010, when the improvements open, and continue until the bonds are paid off, which will probably take 20 years.
The projects on the ballot were selected on the basis of a student survey during Winter quarter, and over 2,600 students signed a petition to request the election. This week's election is the final step in the process and the ultimate opportunity for students to decide whether or not these proposed projects will become reality. We want you to vote in the election, but more importantly, we want you to cast an informed vote.
A "yes" vote will approve two major projects to improve Recreational Sports facilities: the Outdoor Recreation Complex and the McAlexander Fieldhouse Renovation.
The Outdoor Rec Complex will involve upgrading the intramural fields across from Dixon to include all-weather synthetic turf, lighting, new tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a park-like barbecue area, approximately 30 permanent parking spaces, walkways, trees and natural landscaping. The complex will also include an event management pavilion with restrooms.
The McAlexander Fieldhouse Renovation would involve the replacement of the turf and court surfaces with modern, safer flooring, climbing equipment, a challenge course, upgrades to restrooms, lighting and acoustics so the 30,000 square-foot facility can be used for concerts and other major events.
If students vote to approve the projects, construction is estimated to be substantially complete by fall 2010.
These projects are, of course, not free. They would be financed by $10.7 million in bonds, which would be paid off by an increase in student fees. We estimate that this increase would be $17 per student, per term, but it may be higher or lower depending on the interest rate at the time the bonds are sold.
The $17 estimate is based on a six percent interest rate, which is conservative compared to recent higher education bond sales that sold for less than five percent. The fee will begin in fall 2010, when the improvements open, and continue until the bonds are paid off, which will probably take 20 years.
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