THUNDER BAY – There is support among the current Lakehead University student body for a new recreation facility though they need more information before backing any proposal, according to a study.
The university’s fourth-year tourism economics recently completed an examination of the response from students enrolled during the winter semester and whether the new capital project should be undertaken.
They conducted an online survey, which was open for a little more than two weeks and received 720 responses. Forty per cent of respondents said they either support or strongly support a new facility, with 36 either opposed or strongly opposed and 24 per cent undecided.
However, professor Mike Yuan said a significant revelation is that many students feel like they don’t have enough information about the proposed facility.
“Students are going to be paying the fees and thus they need to be the ones making the decision and they can’t make a decision unless they have complete and accurate information about what is being proposed,” Yuan said.
“Currently there has been quite a bit of information in terms of what the centre may look like and what it may contain but there has been no information about cost structure, funding structure or timing.”
Support was highest from students who describe themselves as current users of the existing CJ Sanders Fieldhouse and Hangar, with 52 of those respondents saying they support the idea of a new facility.
Only 18 per cent of self-described non-users are in favour of a new athletic centre with 59 per cent against. As well, 35 per cent of past users and 44 per cent of non-users said they were unaware about the project.
Student William Sorley said the study shows at least one group of respondents need to know more details about the idea.
“The athletics department can see they need to give more information. They can see there are people supporting it but there are (other) people who will support it if they have more information,” he said.
“If they can change the past users to become users or see the benefits a recreation facility can give they might vote for the referendum.”
Students were more likely to support the facility if the resulting student fee increase was held to less than $100. For current users, 54 per cent were willing to pay a $70 increase and 42 per cent were willing to pay a $90 increase, though that dropped to below 30 per cent at $110 all the way to 17 per cent at a $150 hike.
For past and non-users, the majority of respondents were against even a $70 jump.
Lakehead University athletic director Tom Warden said the athletic centre remains in the conceptual phase and more than 250 hours have already been spent consulting with students.
“Students are very involved and very interested in what’s going on with their money,” Warden said. “I think they need to be involved from the beginning to the end, from the design to the use and operations of the facility.”
Before the project could happen, it would have to be put before students in a referendum to increase fees.
Warden said he hoped a proposal could be developed with a vote taking place in the next couple of years, potentially leading to the facility being built within the next five years.
