OCR Text |
Show 4 Community WWW.WSUSIGNP0ST.COM UTA Ed Pass to cost students $20 By Laurie Reiner asst. news editor I The Signpost Starting in September, the price of a Utah Transit Authority Education Pass will be $20. The Ed Pass was free to Weber State University students before this time, but a new contract between WSU and UTA added the price tag. The UTA Ed Pass can be used to ride the buses, TRAX and FrontRunner. Using this pass, students can travel for free as long as they are studying at WSU. The old Ed Passes will work up until September, giving students time to purchase the newpass. Once the grace period has ended, students who try to use the old passes will either be fined for not having a valid fare or will be asked to pay in another form. The old passes will be deactivated and will no longer work. "Our choices were to fill the budgetary hole in our UTA program with a point of service fee, or a card fee, or walk away from the Ed Pass program altogether," said Norm Tarbox, vice president See Ed Pass page 7 PHOTO BY TYLER BROWN I THE SIGNPOST Weber State University students and community members board a UTA bus at the WSU stop near the Ogden LDS Institute of Religion. The increase in the Ed Pass price might cause some students to discontinue using public transportation, but the Ed Pass is still cheaper than a regular pass. Davis expansion continues By Cozette Jenkins editor-in-chief I The Signpost The construction of the new building at Weber State University Davis is on schedule and on budget since the groundbreaking in November 2011. The WSU department of construction management and technology and the department of interior design technology will relocate from the Ogden campus and be housed at Davis. The School of Nursing will also be enlarged at the new building. "The nursing program will have bed labs here, simulation suites, pretty well built like if you went over to McKay-Dee Hospital," said Bruce Davis, vice provost and dean of Continuing Education. "Students will be practicing and learning their craft in a similar setting to what they'll be working with when they graduate." In addition to relocating degree programs, the See Expansion page 7 WEBERSrATEUNrvERsnv Weber State University Davis Campus BIG-I GSBS ■1 SOURCE: WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY Weber State University's Davis campus plans for what the completed campus will look like. The current building under construction is to the right of the academic building in the center. Athletics to improve fans' experiences By Corie Holmes digital editor I The Signpost Football, bleachers, hot dogs, Weber wear, screaming fans, referees, cheerleaders and marching bands are some reasons people go to Weber State University athletic events. This year, WSU has set a new goal to be continually enhancing the fan experience. "We are never going to stop looking how to improve," said Terry Bovee, athletic director. "Our goal from the start is to enhance the fan experience." Bovee went on to say WSU Athletics has already taken steps to accomplish the goal, starting with the new logo. Bovee said at the time the logo was unveiled that it "is a fresher, more marketable look" and will help create consistency in marketing the athletic programs at WSU. This year, Bovee said, WSU Athletics hopes to work on the restrooms at Stewart Stadium, making them more accessible to fans. "When they come to a game, they can buy a hot dog and find a restroom; they can do all the things they need to do to have a well-rounded experience for them and their families," Bovee said. Ann Millner, WSU president, said she hopes the fan and community experience will be more than just tailgating, but everything before, during and after games. "Maybe it's different than just tailgating, like tailgating downtown as well as tailgating around the campus," Millner said. "There are other activities before and after games that make it a game, but also a whole experience." Student Body President Andrew Gardiner said enhancing the fan experience See Experience page 7 Stromberg Gym arena expansion under way By Brandon Arnett b&s editor I The Signpost The Stromberg Gym arena is set to expand the west part of its building this fall to be completed by fall of 2013. Teri Bladen, director of Campus Recreation, said the gym right now is bursting at capacity, so it is time to create more space. The gym will be expanded by two floors, with office space on the first floor and workout space on the second floor. "We want to provide more opportunities for the drop-in recreational user," Bladen said. Bladen said academics has priority in the arena, so when special events occur, student users can't get in. Campus Recreation wanted to solve that problem. "The goal is to create a home for Campus Recreation," Bladen said. The expansion will have a Campus Recreation office suite, so that the different programs can be closer together. Another track will be added above the lower track. Two new workout studios will be on the upper levels. A pedestrian bridge will stretch across the arena to connect the new second floor with the old second floor. Chad Downs, an architect for WSU, said the new expansion will "We want to provide more opportunities for the drop- in recreational user." - Teri Bladen Director of Campus Recreation be 20,000-30,000 square feet. New locker rooms will be added to the new area. Bladen said students had a problem with locker rooms being on different floors. Windows will be installed in the expansion to bring some light into the gym. The new studios will have windows as well, so that the arena doesn't seem so closed in. The building will overlook the west part of the campus with a view of the Great Salt Lake. Campus Recreation is part of the division of Student Affairs for the academics side of the Stromberg Arena. Jan Winniford, vice president of Student Affairs, said that academically, the expansion will benefit students because fitness helps students perform better in the classroom. Winniford said there's a lot of traffic when a student walks into the south entrance ofthe arena. She said the new track will be safer and more accessible, rather than students having to walk across the lower track to get to the weight machines. The Stromberg Arena isn't the only area of fitness that will be provided at WSU. The new building for Wildcat Village will have a fitness center, and the new WSU Davis campus building will have a fitness area also. There will be 3,200 feet of workout space in the new Davis campus building, also opening in fall of 2013. "For those who can't make it to the main campus, the new Davis building will be a beautiful benefit for them," Bladen said. Construction on the new expansion will start in October, and Bladen said the goal is to get it done for the fall semester of 2013. Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. |