March 24, 2004

Student leaders unveil campaign
for recreation center

RWEC website

The student government at California State University, Sacramento has announced a campaign to build a multi-use recreation center just north of Hornet Stadium.

Proposed Recreation/Wellness/Event Center

At 236,000 square feet, the Recreation/Wellness/Event Center would be the largest facility on campus. It is envisioned as including, among other things, a new student health center, fitness center, rock-climbing wall, swimming pool, athletic courts, six-lane bowling center, fitness classrooms, concession space, childcare center, conference center and an 8,000-seat arena for events such as commencement and intercollegiate athletics.
The proposal was developed during meetings held in the fall with hundreds of students.

At a press conference held Tuesday to announce the campaign, Associated Students President Peter Ucovich called it a facility "we believe is unlike anything else in the nation."

"The Recreation/Wellness/Events Center is far more than the simple addition of a building to the campus," Ucovich said. "It is a statement of pride and community. Interviews, surveys and focus groups have all shown students want a facility like the RWEC."

Proposed Recreation/Wellness/Event site

The $73 million proposal requires passage of a student referendum, with voting scheduled for April 27 and 28. The referendum, which is still being finalized, would initially require that students pay an extra $10 per semester for planning and design. When construction begins, most likely in 2006-07 school year, the full fee of $110 per semester would go into effect.

Ucovich said that 71 percent of CSUS students surveyed last year indicated they would support a fee of $99 to $150 per semester for such a facility.

The proposal also depends on the CSUS administration raising $25 million - $10 million of which would have to be on hand when construction begins. Additional funding could come from rental fees for programs and events, and from fitness center memberships sold to faculty, staff and alumni.

For the latest information about the recreation center and conceptual drawings, visit www.csus.edu/union/rwec. Media assistance is available by contacting CSUS public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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