During the last student elections held on
campus in March, the Laurentian University student body gave a
strong vote of support to the proposed expansion of the
physical education building.
More than three quarters of part- and
full-time students, represented by the Students General
Association, the Association des étudiantes et étudiants
francophones and the Graduate Students Association voted in
favour of seeing the university provide better recreational
facilities that will be added to the existing Ben Avery
Physical Education Centre.
The new addition to the Ben Avery Physical
Education Centre will include a climbing wall, indoor running
track which will surround multi-purpose courts.
There will also be squash courts, expanded
weight and cardio rooms, as well multi-purpose rooms that will
be used for activities such as aerobics, yoga and martial
arts.
These features will allow LaurentianÂ's
successful Intramural program to expand its offerings and will
make it easer for students to access the facility.
Funding for this new centre will come from
students through a student recreation centre capital
levy.
The fee paid by students will remain at $30
during the 2005-2006 academic year, but will increase to $50 in
2006-2007, and $75 in 2007-2008.
Students will continue to pay this levy until
the construction costs of the centre are covered.
In an attempt to help alleviate some of the
pressure from the student body, the University is also looking
at other fundraising opportunities to help pay off the building
earlier.
With solid support from students, the
University will proceed with the final planning stages in
preparation for the construction of the new recreational
facility.
Laurentian recently launched the tendering
process for architects and expects that construction will begin
in early in the Fall of 2005.
The revamped Ben Avery Physical Education
Centre should be completed and in operation by September
2007.