Top 10 Reasons To #VoteYesUW

From March 3 to March 5, University of Wisconsin students will have the opportunity to pass a referendum for the Rec Sports Master Plan

1. What We've Got

www2.fpm.wisc.edu

The Natatorium was built in 1964. The SERF was built in 1983. These buildings, along with the Camp Randall Sports Center and others, do not meet national space standards for college recreation.

2. What Has Already Happened

Via uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com

The project is estimated to cost $223M. $97M of that has already been raised through private funding, and students are being asked to support the other 57%. Any additional private funding will be put against the student contributions to keep their costs as low as possible.

3. What Could Be

uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com / Via uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com

Conceptual designs have been released! This would be a new facility in the Lakeshore area. Efficient, spacious and sustainable. For more on the full plan, check this out: http://uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com/about-the-plan/

4. What "No" Would Mean

Via uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com

Students’ segregated fees estimated to at least double to fund necessary repairs to the old buildings. No new space would be added, and it would cost around $30M. That is, until, the next part of these old buildings breaks down.

5. Pay For What You Use

Via uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com

Though they're asking for $223M, Rec Sports isn't asking for it all right away. They will use the $97M they have already raised to fund the first steps of the project, and fees will only increase as phases are completed. For some aspects of the plan, that is still far off in the distance.

6. Play Year Round

wordpress.com

Remember how it's been below freezing for like the last six months? With indoor turf fields, students could play want they wanted year round.

7. No More Rainouts

Via uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com

There are other conditions besides the freezing cold that keep people from recreating the way they want.

With turf fields, intramural games, club activities and special events would not be cancelled because of saturated fields. There may also be an opportunity to expand what UW can do for the community without worrying about destroying fields.

http://uwmadisonrecsports.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/cancellations-and-closures-frustrating-for-students/

8. It's Not NatUp

NatUp was the 2010 campaign. A patch job on the problem we have that was expected to be paid by students in full and as soon as the project began.

The new plan has had student input every step of the way, creative funding sources and, most importantly, payments that come when the buildings can be used.

9. Use Facilities After You Graduate

Via urbanplainsmag.com

In the past, alumni could not have memberships or daily passes because there simply was not enough space. With new facilities, alumni memberships could be a potential new revenue source to help keep costs for students down.

10. Future Badgers

Twitter: @UWNewStudent

Have a brother, sister, cousin or friend that will be here someday? Should we leave future UW students with a bill for something we could have fixed? We can keep throwing away money to fix old facilities or address the problem and give them something great.