IUSA gives SRSC $2,500

This spring, a new cardiovascular exercise room will be added to the Student Recreational Sports Center. \nThe Student Recreational Sports Association and IU Recreational Sports headed the renovation, and the IU Student Association donated $2,500 towards SRSC expansion as part of its "Get Hard" plan.\nSRSA president Brooke Albright said the new exercise room will be aimed at beginners and light exercisers and hopefully alleviate traffic problems at the SRSC.\n"The people using the machines complained of waiting in long lines," she said. "With our budget, we had a difficult choice to make between adding more space and machines or in keeping the facility open more hours. By adding the new room and equipment, we've basically killed two birds with one stone."\nIUSA's "Get Hard" initiative aims to "make students aware of the benefits of exercising your body as well as your mind while in Bloomington," according to a March 30 press release. \n"As an intramural sports enthusiast, I am for anything that improves the physical fitness of the Student Body," IUSA President Bill Gray said.\nIn addition to the SRSC donation, IUSA in conjunction with SRSA will work to promote student fitness around campus. \n"As president of SRSA, I know that one of the students' primary concerns was removal of equipment without replacement," Albright said. "IUSA's 'Get Hard' Campaign has helped us give the students what they want."\nAfter the opening of the new SRSC equipment room, Albright will push for a change in funding for the maintenance and replacement of exercise equipment. She supports a "phase-in" method that would make equipment maintenance a regular part of student fees.\n"We are trying now to keep equipment in the building until we replace them, but they wear down and break over time," Albright said. "If we don't phase in with maintenance fees, one huge replacement cost will be laid on a future generation of students even though other generations contributed to the deterioration of the machines."\nIn the meantime, the new cardio room should be ready for use by the end of this semester, Albright said.\n"I hope this initiative leads to a more beautiful and healthy student body," said IUSA Vice President Judd Arnold.