Storke Field is unusable after significant rainfalls. UCSB Rec Sports hopes to take care of that with a $15 fee.
By Lisa Gray
After years of faithful service to the myriad of UCSB programs which use them, Rob Gym and the Storke play fields are long overdue for some improvements.
This spring, UCSB Recreational Sports hopes to see the Recreation Facility Enhancements referendum on the ballot for UCSB’s campus wide elections. The $15 per quarter fee will finance the replacement of Rob Gym’s leaking roof, as well as fund installation and maintenance of all-weather turf on seven multi-use fields located at Storke Field—two of which will also have evening lighting installed—and repair various other facilities.
Robertson Gym is another UCSB athletic facility in need of repairs, as water leaks disrupt usage during and after rainstorms..
As Rod Tucknott, Director of UCSB Adventure Programs, explains, not only would all of Rec Sports benefit significantly from the fee’s passage, UCSB Adventure Programs has reasons to be directly invested in its success.
Back in the day, Rob Gym was the only available gym on UCSB campus. All of the facilities enjoyed by today’s Gauchos were constructed through initiatives to expand opportunities for recreation, such as the currently promoted petition.
In the midst of all the expansion, however, Rob Gym has greatly deteriorated.
Rob Gym
While the University is responsible for maintaining Rob Gym, maintenance has continually been deferred for over 10 years, and Rob Gym’s leaking roof—the primary concern—has undergone a number of ineffective “band-aid” solutions.
Neglect has led to flooding on the main gym floor and several other rooms. Using the facilities has become a chore—in the gymnastics area, 50% of the space must be covered with plastic tarps and collection containers, and a pump is used to remove the accumulated water. In the upstairs rooms, ceiling tiles have begun to loosen and fall. The situation has gotten so bad that during the intense storms this past winter break, Environmental Health and Safety (H&S) closed the entire gym for nearly a week and a half, labeling it a “health risk, [a] physical risk to safety.” H&S now has Rob Gym on watch during rainy weather.
For UCSB Adventure Programs, re-roofing Rob Gym is “mission critical,” Tucknott said.“[A leaking roof has an] absolute direct effect on Adventure Programs because [Rob Gym] is where we have our ropes course.”
Like many other programs disrupted by the gym’s closing, UCSB Adventure Programs faced inconveniences like being forced to reschedule routine inspections of their ropes course. The only permanent solution is a brand new roof, but in the face of the financial crisis and constant deferring of repair funds the University can no longer afford to take on the project.
“It’s been on the list of projects for many, many years, but they just can’t do it,” Tucknott said. “If things continue on the current path and trajectory…there’s a point where bandaging doesn’t work anymore and [Rob Gym will have] to go away.”
This is where the Recreation Facility Enhancement petition and the voting power of students can help.
Also wrapped up in the petition are the improvements to Storke Field, which promote the well-being of UCSB Adventure Programs in a less direct fashion.
The additional fields will eventually save money and generate revenue, funds which will be poured back into student benefits. All-weather turf eliminates the need for lawn maintenance and provides safer playing conditions, while having extra fields will ease the burden on Rob Field, which is constantly requested and often tightly booked. Furthermore, when not in use by students, the additional fields may be rented out to raise funds. While UCSB Adventure Programs only occasionally uses fields, extra funds are a blessing to all programs; they mean low costs and more financial accessibility to students. As Tucknott puts it, “a rising tide floats all boats.” Those extra funds would allow programs like the ropes courses and the adventure climbing center to continue offering free opportunities to students.
On the same note, the maintenance of other recreational facilities also acts as a blanket benefit to all programs under Rec Sports. Just like expansion, maintenance and repair of the lacrosse pits, the docks used by the sailing team and similar sport program necessities allows Rec Sports to continue offering financially available, easily accessible, and H&S approved opportunities for recreation.
Petitions are circulating campus and can easily be found at UCSB Recreation Sport headquarters in the Rec Cen. Take the first step to proliferating the recreational opportunities offered to all Gauchos by being one of 5,000 signatures needed to push through the petition.
