Page 1 2

At the end of each workday, Kathleen Hatch takes a lap.

She steps out of her office and walks through a weight training area that, at 17,000 square feet, is the largest of its kind in the nation. She peers down into the naturally-lit lap pool and accompanying 53-person hot tub, pokes her head in on a pilates class, and strolls past billiards and ping pong tables before rounding the four-lane elevated track that circles the gymnasium.

It counts as a light workout, but Hatch's true motive is to take the pulse of one of WSU's most expensive pieces of real estate-the $39 million student recreation center she directs.

The old facilities left much to be desired, students say. There were always long waits to get into a stuffy, windowless 5,000-square-foot weight room with outdated equipment. This facility offers not only more space: There are nutrition clinics, Internet portals, espresso and juice bars, personal trainers, massage therapists, and seminars on everything from weight loss to grizzly bear awareness.

Though some wince at the idea of these elaborate recreation centers taking precedence over libraries' long wish lists, recruitment-minded colleges and universities are sparing little to build centers that emulate some of the nation's most deluxe health clubs.

"Colleges and universities are having to compete for students more," says Barry Brown, marketing director of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, "and when they come to campuses, the rec center can be a determining factor for them to choose that university."

Page 1 2

Continued

THE REC CENTER INDEX

$4,380,000,000

_{Estimated construction and renovation cost of planned recreation facilities between 2003 and 2008 among 725 colleges and universities that are members of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).}

$3,953,367,000

_{Estimated mean amount spent per academic year on athletic apparel and clothes by users of college recreation sports, according to a 2002 NIRSA study of the economic impact of recreation sports programs.}

$2,862,783,000

_{Estimated mean amount spent per academic year on athletic shoes by users of college recreation sports. Same study.}

$1,590,435,000

_{Estimated mean amount spent per academic year on bottled water by users of college recreational sports. Same study.}

$39,000,000

_{Amount spent on WSU's Student Recreation Center.}

$3,000,000

_{Amount spent annually to maintain the center.}

$700,000

_{Amount spent on payroll for students employed at the center.}

160,000

_{Number of square feet of recreational and fitness equipment at WSU's rec center.}

17,000

_{Number of square feet for free weight and cardio fitness training in WSU's student rec center, which WSU boasts is the largest such training area at a student rec center in the nation.}

4,000

_{Average number of people who enter WSU's rec center Monday through Friday during the first three to four weeks of school.}

400

_{Approximate number of students employed at WSU's rec center.}

25

_{Number of years it will take WSU students to pay off the construction bond for their  rec center.}

0

_{Amount of slack WSU student employees at the rec center gave to WSU president V. Lane Rawlins when he tried to enter once without identification. Even the prez needs to carry his Cougar Card!}