I am responding to the Letter to the Editor entitled “Rec Center removes students and their rights” that appeared in the Oakland Post on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, as well as to the on-line Letter to the Editor entitled “An apology to the rec center staff.”

The author asserts that hours are being taken away from students. The Recreation Center hours have not changed for several years. Closing at 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday during the academic year began the first day of operation in September, 1998. We have adjusted weekend, academic break and summer hours over time based on demand and usage patterns. The Recreation Center is open 109.5 hours per week during fall and winter semesters.  Over the entire current fiscal year, we are open 4,953.5 hours over 345 days. 

During the eighteen years of operation, our closing procedure has been consistent. Announcements are made 30, 15 and five minutes prior to closing. The expectation for students and other participants is that all activity has ended and everyone has left the building at closing. The author asserts that we do not wish to pay our staff overtime. 

With a current fiscal year budget for student employment compensation over $700,000, that is not the case. When a student or organization consistently disrespects our student employees by not meeting the expectations at closing, consequences are implemented, which included in one case reducing a student organization’s facility rental by 30 minutes. Notification was provided to the president of the student organization in question on March 14.

It is true that the fitness center space has not kept pace with demands in our eighteen year history. Enrollment has increased 53 percent since 1998. Our student usage of the Recreation Center is consistently increasing annually between five and 10 percent. As indicated in an article in the January 27 Oakland Post, we are at the very beginning stages of exploring increasing dedicated recreation space on campus, consistent with the Master Planning process. In the meantime, we are addressing today’s needs by repurposing the social lounge to now include 9-12 cardio pieces, placing stationary bikes on the corner of the track, repurpose the squash court into a cardio/strength workout area. During this coming summer, we will be repurposing racquetball Court 4 into a work out zone as well. 

The mission of the Department of Campus Recreation is to offer programs, services and facilities that creates a connection to Oakland University, encourage life balance, and foster student development. Our core elements are recreation, well-being and student enrichment. 

Since the posting of the two letters, I invited the author to meet with me, which took place on Friday morning. I believe we both have an understanding of questions being raised about the Rec Center. However, I disagree with the author’s statement that the Rec Center is removing students and their rights. On the contrary, this department is an excellent example of being student-centered as a core value.