Center beefs up UNLV life

If you asked UNLV students in 2003 what they thought about forking over more than $300 in fees each year to build a new student union and recreation center, you probably got a lot of grumbling.

Ask them now, and many don't seem to mind the cost.

The new Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a $58 million, 184,000-square-foot edifice with hundreds of exercise machines, weights and a lap pool, opened three weeks ago, bringing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas into the mainstream of large American universities that have devoted millions of dollars toward student life facilities.

Already, school officials say, the number of students taking advantage of the new facility over the old one has increased 17-fold.

And they hope the new buildings will help attract and retain students at the state's largest university, where the dropout rate remains embarrassingly high.

There are signs that the latest building could be a hit, despite early concerns that students at the traditionally commuter school wouldn't stick around on campus long enough each day to use the facilities.

Most students interviewed Wednesday said they were already using the new recreation center for yoga, exercise or intramural sports.

A few didn't even know what the building was, however. The main entrance faces away from the parking lot where most students park, and there's no sign on that side of the building. Officials said that problem will be fixed.

But other students, such as sophomore Jacob Wilcox, said having such an extensive array of workout facilities on campus fosters an environment of exercise and healthy living.

"It's really convenient," he said. "You're just getting out of class, you can carry a spare bag of clothes and work out before going to work."

"I try to use it every day," said sophomore Ricky Campbell, who also wants to use one of the several courts in the facility for his intramural dodgeball team.

The building is impressive, if just for the sheer square footage.

It boasts a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, a four-court gymnasium, two racquetball courts, two courts for indoor soccer, and a cafe and juice bar. On the fourth floor is a jogging track with views of the Strip and campus.

Students can get a massage, take kickboxing or swimming lessons, learn CPR, or participate in yoga or pilates classes.

"I think it's a lot better than 24-Hour Fitness," freshman Wade Vanderbilt said.

The facility is a far cry from the McDermott Physical Education Complex, which has been converted to academic facilities. Only about 100 students each day used the gym and basketball courts in the 3-decade-old building.

More than 1,700 students are using the new four-story building on a typical weekday. Officials hope the number will increase to at least 3,000 per day this semester as word-of-mouth spreads.

The Student Wellness Center, which treats students for everything from dietary habits to depression to cuts and bruises, has also been moved inside the building.

The positive student comments are something not heard on campus over the past few years, as students have -- many unhappily -- paid hundreds of dollars each year in fees toward the new student union and the new recreation center.

The two buildings, on opposite sides of campus, are entirely student-funded.

UNLV alumni will be allowed to use the new recreation center for the same number of semesters they paid the fees. Only 100 former students have taken up the university on the offer so far.

Faculty can pay $295 for a membership, and members of the public can use the facilities for $350 a year.

UNLV has not been able to secure a donor to name the building after. Nor has it been able to find someone to pony up $2.5 million for an optional outdoor leisure pool and beach volleyball courts. Piping and wires for these facilities have already been installed underneath the grassy field south of the building.

But there are signs that UNLV's efforts to keep students on campus could be changing.

Officials were worried that foot traffic would fall at Lied Library, UNLV's flagship building that has been the backdrop of numerous television spots and advertisements, when the student union fully opened this summer.

But the number of visitors to the library during September jumped nearly 20 percent from last year, to more than 258,000 people.

"The place is packed," UNLV libraries Dean Patricia Iannuzzi said.

Although an impressive library is one of the biggest draws for potential students, the new student life facilities are also likely to help entice future students to the university, undergraduate recruitment Director Kristi Rodriguez said.

"These are just one of those things that students consider when picking a college," she said. "They're absolutely recruitment tools."