Is Carleton University trying to single-handedly jump-start the economy?
Well, it’s five years too late, but what is up with the new gym? It’s so . . . needlessly fancy.
After a personal three-month hiatus from the athletics centre, I had my first workout recently inside the new, state-of-the-art facility. I must say, I am impressed. My biggest beef with the old gym was the lack of ventilation, followed by the drab colours that made me so apathetic while I worked out. Both problems were solved with tremendous success.
The original estimate for the new fitness centre was $2 million, but for some reason, the upgrade ended up costing $3.3 million. I’m curious to see where that money came from.
The original $2 million was from raising students’ athletics fees to $25. That raise in fees wasn’t forced upon us, as a referendum was held two years ago to decide whether we wanted a new facility.
But when I was at the Athletics Centre, I really didn’t see the need for brand new equipment. I can’t say that I’ve used every single piece of equipment in the old gym, but many elliptical trainers and stationary bikes were still in quality, working condition. Why spend the extra money to buy so many brand-spanking-new machines? There were many machines that were beyond repair, but I’m sure it was possible to find the same models, or used ones, for a cheaper price.
As for the strength-training, what is up with having Rodney’s face on everything?
To quote Homer Simpson, I felt like I was “wasting a fortune just standing” there. The squats area had basketball flooring with Rodney’s face on it. I’m not sure why it needed to have separate hardwood flooring for squats to begin with. Every single plate and dumbbell were also branded with his face. Was it really necessary to order customized plates and dumbbells?
I know that we, as the majority, asked for it, and we paid for it.
Personally, I voted “No” in the last referendum for this new facility because there was not a guarantee that the university would revert back to the old fees (like any other fee-based business), and I thought a ventilation upgrade would be enough.
But I wasn’t expecting this extravagance, and to be $1.3 million over-budget is ludicrous. I’m also very curious to see where that money came from.
I think it came from students, but how and from where? Hidden fees that we didn’t know about? Or some kind of surplus that went “unnoticed” to begin with?
Since this facility was built with student money, I believe that we do have a right to know why it was over budget and where this extra million dollars and change came from. I also believe that we have a right to know if all of this shiny new equipment was really needed.
I’m sure other Ravens and alumni know what it is like to be a poor, starving university student. I would like to see whether the extra money spent gratuitously could have been spent by myself on groceries, rent, or a trip home to see my parents.
— Abraham Lau,
third-year psychology and law
