The Nevada Sagebrush

Lombardi Recreation Center officials propose a $10 increase beginning fall 2009. The Board of Regents will vote on the plan in December.

Lombardi Recreation Center officials want to increase its semester and annual membership fees by $10 beginning fall 2009. The Board of Regents will vote on the proposal at its meeting in December.

Under the new system, undergraduate and graduate students would pay $75 per semester, classified faculty would pay $80 and professors and administrators would pay $95.

Jim Fitzsimmons, associate director of campus recreation and wellness, said that the fee increase is prompted by increased operating fees and planned improvements. The increased operating costs are a result of inflation and high-energy prices.

“We always strive to reinvest into the program,” he said. “What we don’t want to do is fall behind.”

If the increase is approved, beginning next fall the building could stay open until midnight during weekdays and weekend hours could be extended. In addition, Monday holidays on which Lombardi is traditionally closed could have open hours. Pool hours could also be expanded if the new fees are approved.

Lombardi also has plans to upgrade aerobic equipment, including stepmills and bicycles, put up new intramural scoreboards in the basketball courts, create a dedicated yoga studio, and upgrade the racquetball courts.

Plans are also in the works to expand the widely popular drop-in fitness classes.

Fitzsimmons said the increase of fees is nothing new and usually occurs about every five years.

When he first began working at Lombardi in 1997, student fees were $25 per semester and have gradually increased to $65 in recent years.

Many students do not feel the recreation center’s request is unreasonable.

“For me, $10 is not that much of an increase,” Anna Kernecker, a 19-year-old art history major, said. “It’s still such a good deal compared to other gyms.”

Campus Recreation and Wellness officials presented the proposal to the Graduate Student Association this week and plan to present it to the Associated Students of the University of Nevada Senate Wednesday.

Though GSA and ASUN won’t make the decision to implement the new fees, Fitzsimmons said officials are looking to gain their support.

“If they did come back and say they didn’t support a fee raise at this time, we would seriously reconsider submitting the proposal,” Fitzsimmons said.

“We’ve always thought of ourselves as good stewards of the students’ money, and we want to uphold that.”

Jeff Mosier and Jay Balagna can both be reached at editor@nevadasagebrush.com.