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That's exactly what happened when Noreen Kariuki came to WSU to
visit with her parents from Federal Way, Washington, last
spring.
"I saw this and said, 'I have to come to this school,' " says
Kariuki, as she cycles on a machine with a bird's eye view of a
basketball court packed with young men playing hoops. More than
25,000 prospective students tour the facility annually, and it's
one of the first stops for coaches trying to lure athletic recruits
to WSU. University of Washington and Gonzaga University officials
have also stopped by to check out the hype. As more universities
pour money into fancy recreation centers, there's more pressure on
everyone else to keep up, especially in the health-conscious
Northwest, whose residents lead the nation in active living.
Such attractions are a draw for students, but also for their
parents, eager to know their incoming freshmen will have a healthy
alternative to the college bar circuit or campus parties. Rec
center officials try to keep up on the latest fitness trends,
offering new courses each year, such as this fall's invitingly
titled "boot camp," as well as flatwater kayaking and belly
dancing.
The center stays on top of trends, in part because it's largely
run by students. Four hundred students are employed on a $700,000
payroll, making the center one of Pullman's largest student
employers.
And it was students who originally requested, lobbied in favor
of, voted on, and now pay for the center, the result of a 1998
student referendum calling for a self-imposed fee of $100 per
semester to pay for construction, maintenance, and operation of the
center. The 25-year bond requires WSU to pay a $3 million debt
annually. Operation and maintenance take another $3 million. There
has been some grumbling each year as fees have edged up without
students' consent, adding to the already difficult burden of
tuition hikes. Students, who originally voted for the $100 fee in
1998, have watched the fee climb to $120 per semester over the
course of three years. The fee increase translates into salary
increases and annual improvements such as the 50 new cardio
machines on the floor this fall. There is a sense of responsibility
to justify the expense, admits Hatch, the center's director. "The
$40 million question is, is this a luxury or a necessity? You don't
spend $40 million to win a couple of awards. The physical building
has to inspire activity, reach students who are sitting on the
fence. But since the day we've opened we've seen evidence of that
happening."
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