ISU Rec upgrades...

superfan · 05-04-2008, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by iastate08

I'm going to be a freshamn at ISU this upcoming fall, where would you guys "in the know" say is the best place on campus to get some pick up games going, also is the Lied building the only place you can work out at? Thanks for the answers in advance.

Pfft.... Freshmen aren't allowed to use the rec. Now get back to shining my belt, newbie!

Lied's good for pick-up games. State also has the downfall of hosting IM games, so those three courts can get full fast. The one thing I would advise, though, is make sure to really schedule time for basketball/workouts and stick with it. When classes pick up it's easy to blow it off and harder to get back into it. The Freshman 15 is very, very real.

I still can't believe people are still upset about this, even after it was democratically voted in by the student body. A $20 increase? I paid more than that for dinner last night. Even if you take the $107 increase, that's all of 1.12% of my tuition for the semester. I wish I could be around to see it when the improvements are done...

PolkCityClone · 05-04-2008, 10:57 PM

If you want to know about working out in the heat, you should have played ball with Lefty Moore and the Harris boys during the summer in State gym. Temp was usually around 105 - 110.

There were a several profs that had good old school game in Beyer during the noon hour.

Dormeezy · 05-04-2008, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by cloneu

I would agree that air conditioning is a good idea given how hot it gets in there. During the summer months I would have a sweat going by the time I got to the top floor, while that is fine for most college students, I'm sure the older crowd would appreciate having air conditioning.

Maybe they should be the ones paying for it then..

clone2011 · 05-04-2008, 11:49 PM

Faculty, staff, alumni, and their spouses all have to pay a membership fee to use the Lied facility. There will eventually be some sort of fee increase for non-students who want to use the rec center.

Phaedrus · 05-04-2008, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

I love it when student fees go up.

Makes me happy inside.

Well, now that you are "The Man" in the all-powerful GSB, vote to defund the GSB, and all the clubs and special interest groups some of those fees support.

SouthernHawk · 05-05-2008, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

Well, now that you are "The Man" in the all-powerful GSB, vote to defund the GSB, and all the clubs and special interest groups some of those fees support.

There's a difference.

1 - the GSB didn't have a say in this.

2 - They spent thousands of dollars on advertising to get this thing passed

3 - here are some interesting articles on why the entire thing was fishy:

Critics call for new vote on ISU rec center - News

Director had early access to rec votes - News

Note, they spent nearly $14,500 on marketing alone for this project. Add in the fact that they were able to revise their marketing strategies as the votes came in, and this entire voting thing was virtually rigged.

Do a revote, and it fails by a landslide.

clone2011 · 05-05-2008, 12:17 AM

There's a difference.

1 - the GSB didn't have a say in this.

Other than, you know, voting for it.

2 - They spent thousands of dollars on advertising to get this thing passed

Yep. They used department funds to promote something that would better their department. What a shocker.

3 - here are some interesting articles on why the entire thing was fishy:

Critics call for new vote on ISU rec center - News

Director had early access to rec votes - News

I don't really know what to think about the early access. Although an article I read mentioned that they could NOT alter the votes, and that anytime there is an online campus vote the people running it have access to results.

Note, they spent nearly $14,500 on marketing alone for this project. Add in the fact that they were able to revise their marketing strategies as the votes came in, and this entire voting thing was virtually rigged.

Do a revote, and it fails by a landslide.

As somebody with TWO roommates who work at the rec, let me fill you in. They had a staff meeting the week before the vote--they were given more info on what the proposed renovations were so they could accurately answer questions, and something about picking up their t-shirts. The student employees didn't have any sort of meeting during the vote where they were informed of the status of votes. They didn't find out until everyone else did.

I was NEVER told to "Vote Yes"--I was asked to vote, but never to vote yes. I was informed of all the information available, and even read and listened to those who were opposed to the renovations.

Show me ONE promotional piece that says "Vote Yes". You can't. There aren't any. There are items out there that describe what the new renovations will be, facts about the fee increase, etc. Nothing saying "Vote Yes". Look at the t-shirts or water bottles. They say "VOTE" not "Vote Yes".

If the proposal had not passed, would any of this be an issue? No. The nay-sayers wouldn't care, they would just celebrate their victory.

SouthernHawk · 05-05-2008, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by clone2011

Other than, you know, voting for it.

Yep. They used department funds to promote something that would better their department. What a shocker.

I don't really know what to think about the early access. Although an article I read mentioned that they could NOT alter the votes, and that anytime there is an online campus vote the people running it have access to results.

As somebody with TWO roommates who work at the rec, let me fill you in. They had a staff meeting the week before the vote--they were given more info on what the proposed renovations were so they could accurately answer questions, and something about picking up their t-shirts. The student employees didn't have any sort of meeting during the vote where they were informed of the status of votes. They didn't find out until everyone else did.

I was NEVER told to "Vote Yes"--I was asked to vote, but never to vote yes. I was informed of all the information available, and even read and listened to those who were opposed to the renovations.

Show me ONE promotional piece that says "Vote Yes". You can't. There aren't any. There are items out there that describe what the new renovations will be, facts about the fee increase, etc. Nothing saying "Vote Yes". Look at the t-shirts or water bottles. They say "VOTE" not "Vote Yes".

If the proposal had not passed, would any of this be an issue? No. The nay-sayers wouldn't care, they would just celebrate their victory.

That's all fine and dandy. However, the problem still stands that they spent $14,000 on marketing, and had early access to the votes to change their marketing plans. Whether or not they did is yet to be seen.

The point is, opposition did not get $14,000 to spend in marketing against the measure. And for a $53 million project that involves student funds, I'd expect both sides to be represented equally. And they were not.

I'm all for rec center upgrades. That's cool - they're old. However, given the fact that all of the money is coming out of student fees, I would have liked to see more information made more easily available, rather than the proponents receive most of the spotlight.

SouthernHawk · 05-05-2008, 12:23 AM

Oh, and I'm not talking about altering votes, I'm talking about altering marketing techniques to get the voting outcome they want.

clone2011 · 05-05-2008, 12:33 AM

Altering marketing techniques?

They presented the FACTS of the proposed renovations. No group that is promoting something is going to go out of their way to point out the negatives. I visited the rec every day of the vote. Each time I swiped in I was asked if I'd voted yet, nothing less nothing more, as the vote went on. I didn't see any changes in banners or in the type of freebies given away.

The "opposition" deserved money to support their case? You mean the Facebook group that was thrown together? Or is there some other, more organized group out there?

Signs were up in the rec since winter break, and renovations have been mentioned on campus ever since that survey done a few years ago. People knew it was coming.

I still don't understand why everyone complains about the fee increase when they WON'T be paying for it unless they get to use it. Like someone else posted earlier, you can drop $20 on a dinner out on the town. Skip one steak meal at Legend's, and you'll have saved the equivalent of your rec fee. Your body will thank you anyway.

jaretac · 05-05-2008, 12:36 AM

I'm a student at Iowa State. I'm receiving NO financial help from any of my family and it irritates me that year after year they come up with new ways to nickle and dime me- and it's not even helping my education. If you want a workout, do what I do and use the sidewalk, I've never used the Rec and I run 3+ miles everyday. I'm not saying that we should have no recreation facilities, but I don't see why a new Rec building or renovating Beyer Hall is needed worse than renovating buildings like East and Physics that desperately need help.

I'm usually all for progress, but I don't want my tuition to increase just for a luxury that we don't need. Oh, did you know that summer school students in the 20's had to sleep in tents. It makes you feel a bit better about what we have.

ajk4st8 · 05-05-2008, 12:36 AM

I guess I dont understand the concept of 'altering marketing techniques'.

Anyone care to explain?

Bader · 05-05-2008, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by jaretac

I'm a student at Iowa State. I'm receiving NO financial help from any of my family and it irritates me that year after year they come up with new ways to nickle and dime me- and it's not even helping my education. If you want a workout, do what I do and use the sidewalk, I've never used the Rec and I run 3+ miles everyday. I'm not saying that we should have no recreation facilities, but I don't see why a new Rec building or renovating Beyer Hall is needed worse than renovating buildings like East and Physics that desperately need help.

I'm usually all for progress, but I don't want my tuition to increase just for a luxury that we don't need. Oh, did you know that summer school students in the 20's had to sleep in tents. It makes you feel a bit better about what we have.

That's fine that you don't use it, however do not try and use the argument "I don't need this and neither and do you".

And you're really kidding yourself if you don't think these upgrades have an impact on students choosing whether or not they wish to attend the university. No, I don't think someone won't choose ISU because the rec facilities are lacking, however there are high schoolers who would choose ISU over another school with similar academic situations because we have a brand new building addition on one of our rec centers.

IOWASTATE · 05-05-2008, 12:42 AM

On a side note.... Please do not call it "The Lied", either just call it a) Lied, or b) The Rec.

Carry on

SouthernHawk · 05-05-2008, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by clone2011

Altering marketing techniques?

They presented the FACTS of the proposed renovations. No group that is promoting something is going to go out of their way to point out the negatives. I visited the rec every day of the vote. Each time I swiped in I was asked if I'd voted yet, nothing less nothing more, as the vote went on. I didn't see any changes in banners or in the type of freebies given away.

The "opposition" deserved money to support their case? You mean the Facebook group that was thrown together? Or is there some other, more organized group out there?

Signs were up in the rec since winter break, and renovations have been mentioned on campus ever since that survey done a few years ago. People knew it was coming.

I still don't understand why everyone complains about the fee increase when they WON'T be paying for it unless they get to use it. Like someone else posted earlier, you can drop $20 on a dinner out on the town. Skip one steak meal at Legend's, and you'll have saved the equivalent of your rec fee. Your body will thank you anyway.

This is exactly my point. No other group, organization, or marketing team presented any reasons as why somebody should vote no. All we heard was why this renovations are a positive, how they can help, yada yada yada. We get it. It'll be cool to have.

However, for people like me (and the poster I'm about to respond to), there are a lot of people who do not use the Rec centers. I walk, bike, and do other things to keep myself healthy. I don't want to have to cut back on one steak dinner at Legends to pay for everybody else to have a better time playing pick up games.

There are much better things that this $53 million could be going to. For example: Helser. Anybody live there? I walked through it the other day and felt like I needed to get a tetanus shot. The dorms are over-crowded, and the original plans to abandon and tear down Helser have been abandoned due to the fact that each year we admit more and more students.

How about much needed renovations to other buildings on campus? Gilman has seen better days, the Armory is a complete dump, Davidson is horrible, etc...

But instead, we put the money towards this.

Originally Posted by jaretac

I'm a student at Iowa State. I'm receiving NO financial help from any of my family and it irritates me that year after year they come up with new ways to nickle and dime me- and it's not even helping my education. If you want a workout, do what I do and use the sidewalk, I've never used the Rec and I run 3+ miles everyday. I'm not saying that we should have no recreation facilities, but I don't see why a new Rec building or renovating Beyer Hall is needed worse than renovating buildings like East and Physics that desperately need help.

I'm usually all for progress, but I don't want my tuition to increase just for a luxury that we don't need. Oh, did you know that summer school students in the 20's had to sleep in tents. It makes you feel a bit better about what we have.

1st of all - the tents would be fun. ;)

2nd of all - I agree with everything you said. There are other buildings that need the help much more than activity centers.

Originally Posted by Bader

That's fine that you don't use it, however do not try and use the argument "I don't need this and neither and do you".

And you're really kidding yourself if you don't think these upgrades have an impact on students choosing whether or not they wish to attend the university. No, I don't think someone won't choose ISU because the rec facilities are lacking, however there are high schoolers who would choose ISU over another school with similar academic situations because we have a brand new building addition on one of our rec centers.

There are far more students who would choose ISU over other schools based on the shape that the classrooms and educational buildings are in rather than what the shape the rec centers are in.

It's nice to have those things, but seriously, there are so many more things that I'd rather see my fees increased for.