New gym membership fees for UF students not enrolled in summer B classes have lost a little of their initial sting.
The fee was originally $50 for all non-enrolled students but was lowered to $20 for students who took classes during summer A or spring and are enrolled for fall classes.
The new membership policy, which was announced in June, prohibits anyone who is not currently enrolled in classes from using on-campus gym facilities without a membership.
The $50 gym membership fee is still in effect, however, for students who won't be returning for classes the semester following their membership purchase.
Student Body President Kevin Reilly said when he learned about the plan to charge non-enrolled students $50, it struck him and other students as unfair.
"I had several students approach me and speak at Senate who weren't happy about it," Reilly said.
To make the fee more affordable for students, Reilly worked with David Bowles, director of Recreational Sports, and Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president of student affairs, to renegotiate the summer B charge.
To determine the fee, they calculated how much money a student taking six credit hours during summer B would pay toward gym fees as part of their tuition. The result was close to the $20 students pay now.
"It makes sense," said David Stopka, associate director for facility operations. "We're trying to make it fair for everybody."
Because the new policy went into effect Tuesday, the Membership Services office at Southwest Recreation Center has been flexing its administrative muscles to enroll more than 150 new members.
Those who do plan to pay for gym use should anticipate exercising a little patience in the membership office, as up to eight people at a time crowd the small space.
"I've never seen so many people walk through that door," said Melissa Garcia, a UF criminology senior who works in the membership office.
Garcia said most people have been receptive to the cheaper cost to use the gym.
"The facilities here are so nice," said Jessica Lillesand, a recent law school graduate. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
Students can pay the fee, which amounts to $21.25 including tax, with cash or credit card.
They will also fill out a questionnaire about their physical activity along with a membership agreement.
To be eligible for the $20 membership fee, a print-out of an ISIS schedule is also needed to verify registration in fall 2008 classes.
