Carleton students voted in favour of a $39 athletics fee increase for a fitness centre renovation in the referendum held on Nov. 12 and 13.
The Athletics Fitness Centre Expansion Fee referendum passed with 73.6 per cent in favour of the motion. There were more than 9,000 votes, representing a voter turnout of 29.8 per cent — far over the required minimum 15 per cent turnout.
The current athletics fee of $119 per term for students will increase to $158 per term, but only once the upgraded facility is completed. Curently, the project is projected to open in fall 2028.
The fee will fund the construction of a two-storey facility with expanded amenities. The plan includes a permanent women’s-only area, new cardio and weight training equipment and multipurpose activity rooms. The renovation will increase the fitness centre from its current footprint of 11,000 square feet to an area of 32,000 square feet split across two floors.
Jack Sonkodi, a first-year Carleton student, said he’s excited for the proposed expansion, even if students may not use the new and improved facilities anytime soon.
“A lot of the people here now that are being coaxed into voting for it aren’t really going to get to reap the rewards,” said Sonkodi.
“Let’s make it better for the kids three years from now.”
For some students, there is a pressing need for a fitness centre expansion. Akela Basak, also a first-year student, said he recently visited the fitness centre for the first time and found the facilities did not meet his expectations.
“I realized it was pretty small. I thought it was going to be bigger, and it was very crowded,” Basak said. “Currently, it’s great and there are a lot of good machines, but I find it’s a bit too small for a university gym.”
Even with the fee increase, Carleton’s athletics fee will remain lower than the $173 provincial average for an undergraduate athletics fee. On top of this, The price tag will include CUFit classes, which currently cost students an additional $100 per term if they wish to join group fitness classes like kickboxing or Zumba.
“Compared to what you’re paying per semester, which is multi-thousands, a $39 increase is not going to change your life,” Basak said.
“I am happy that they will go forward with it, and I can’t wait to see how it looks.”
Featured photo by Isabel Harder/the Charlatan
