SAIT's current recreation centre on Feb.29, 2024.(Photo by Jiaqi Su /The Press)
Even though the campus centre is under construction and isn’t expected to be completed until 2027, current SAIT students are still required to pay a recreation fee as part of their tuition.
And that is upsetting to some.
Lucy Clement, a business administration program student at SAIT, called the current recreation situation unfair.
“Obviously we are paying (for something) we don’t actually have, so why would we pay full price for stuff when they turn that down,” she said.
Clement added the old campus centre had a swimming pool and more services, and the proposed centre will not.
Lucy Clement, a business administration student of SAIT, is checking her heartbeat rate on her sports watch while using the gym facility at the Bubble on Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo by Jiaqi Su /The Press)
Simon Rada, an international student of SAIT in front of the SAIT current recreation centre on Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo by Jiaqi Su /The Press)
Before its demolition in October 2023, the campus centre building provided gym facilities, fitness classes, study spaces and a pub for students.
A temporary gym has been set up in a bubble on the northeast corner of campus, giving students access to weights and a multi-purpose court.
Study spaces have also been made available in other buildings, however, there is no licenced establishment on campus.
Moreover, some facilities and services cannot be used during construction, for example, according to the SAIT Trojans website, the Group fitness classes have been paused since June 20, 2023.
“We're actively trying to relaunch our fitness classes,” said Patrick Gauvreau, team leader of SAIT Trojans.
“The biggest challenge right now is space, facilities and areas that we can run the classes. So that'll be the first hurdle,” said Gauvreau.
According to the SAIT website, the campus athletic and recreation fee is between $51.50 and $103 per semester, depending on the number of credits.
“Waving the fee would mean those services were stopped, like, our teams wouldn't exist, and our recreation authorities would not exist,” said Gauvreau.
All students are charged a recreation fee, even if they don’t use the facilities, as a way of reducing overall costs.
“They all get charged (recreation fee). The reason it works like that is it's to make sure that every student has the same access to everything,” said Gauvreau.
Gauvreau added that SAIT provides even more services than before for students.
“We've added cricket, badminton, rugby, we've added east sports; we have all these ways for people to be involved so much,” he said.
More facilities and services are expected on campus in spring 2024.
“We've had to make new options and some of the new options as we've increased our sports studio,” he said.“We've increased outdoor programming which will be coming in the spring as well. Once the snow goes away.”
Andrew Tran, Esports Coordinator, holding the trophy of the SAIT Trojans at the SAIT Senator Burns building on Feb. 27, 2024. (Photo by Jiaqi Su /The Press)
Lucy Clement, a business administration student of SAIT, is using the gym facility at the Bubble on Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo by Jiaqi Su /The Press)