Some people get in for free, others have to pay. No, it is not ladies night at the new club downtown, but rather the Student Recreation and Fitness Center at The University of Memphis.
While full-time U of M students may simply swipe their student ID to go work out on campus, anyone else who wants to work out has to reach for their wallet.
The SRFC requires an entry fee for part-time students, faculty, staff and alumni. The fee ranges from $3 for part-time students to $5 for alumni. Full-time faculty and staff have the option to pay a monthly fee, the amount of which depends on that employee's salary, according to the SRFC admission fee policy.
"Full-time students, full-time faculty and staff have access," said Steve Whistler, assistant director of fitness/facilities. "But we are currently trying to set something up, if administration approves it, for alumni, part-time students and part-time faculty."
The SRFC considers students taking less than six credit hours to be part-time students and they must pay the $3 fee to work out, according to Johnny Barnes, office assistant in the Recreation Center, "but anything above six hours is free."
Part-time faculty and temporary staff are currently not allowed to use the campus facilities, while alumni and part-time students must pay every time they go.
"It's not fair, if you are a student at The U of M you are a student at The U of M," said Andre Brandon, senior marketing major. "They shouldn't be treated differently."
Brandon is a part-time student who only needs one class to graduate. "Shouldn't I have the same rights as a full-time student?" he asked. "I feel like if you work at or go to The University of Memphis you should get the same rights as everyone."
Khalid Khawaja works out four or five times a week and said that he disagrees with part-time students and faculty having to pay. "I think they should have the same right as students," said the senior criminal justice major. "I don't think it is fair, they are part of this school, too."
Whistler said the proposal has not been submitted yet, but the department is hopeful that the results will be beneficial to the groups who currently have to pay by visit.
"We are trying to come up with something reasonable. It wouldn't be like faculty or staff rates, but a better deal than with most of the clubs in town," he said.
Members of The U of M Alumni Association have access to the SRFC, but with a price.
To work out on campus, Whistler said, "they have to join the alumni association, a $35 fee, and they get a membership card that gives them the ability to use our facility."
However, the $35 membership fee is not applied to recreation center usage. Alumni still have to pay a $5 fee every time they wish to use the facilities.
"That membership just gives them the avenue to use the facilities," Whistler said.
The pending plan will affect alumni, part-time students and part-time faculty and staff members. The SRFC hopes the new plan will provide for a semester payment plan or a monthly fee.
"We are real close to submitting it," Whistler said. "We hope to do it in the next couple of weeks. We are just trying to make sure it will not get held it up going through the process."
