Agreement approved for AC renovations
Katherine Harding

It's official. On February 23, the Board of Governors (BOG) endorsed the new five-year Student Services Operating Procedures Agreement that includes a $2.5 million renovation project for the Athletic Complex.

The agreement between the University, WLU Students' Union and the Graduate Students Association easily passed with little discourse on the terms of the new deal.

Other highlights of the Operating Procedures Agreement for the renewed Comprehensive Student Services Fee include:

o Establishing a stable fee for a five-year term (May 1999-April 2004);

o Free admission for WLU students to all regular season home intercollegiate games;

o Student employment opportunities (Career Services, Ath-letics Student Lead-ers);

o Extended service by two additional nights to Counselling and Health Services;

o Reserve/New Initiative fund potential with 100 percent student control over disbursement.

The agreement's hallmark is a 50/50 partnership which will be established between the University and undergraduate and graduate students in the finances and funding, operations, and management of Student Services.

Student representatives will continue to make up 50 percent of the Student Services Advisory Council (SSAC), which serves as the steering group for Student Services.

The new agreement outlines that the SSAC will now have direct control over human resources, facilities, and finances.

After the agreement expires in 2004, the entire deal will be re-negotiated.

Athletic Complex renovation

Beginning in September, students will see their Comprehensive Student Services fee rise by $4 per semester to help pay for the AC renovation.

Half of the project's $2.5 million price tag will be picked up by students. The University is planning to secure the other portion of the renovation cost through external donations.

Upgrades will be-gin at the facility quickly.

"We want to start the project immediately after exams are done," said Assist-ant Vice-President: Student Services David McMurray.

McMurray added that several stages still have to be achieved, including approval of a final renovation plan by a user committee primarily made up of AC users.

"The user group is a representative group from the Laurier campus who frequently uses the facility. The group is predominantly students," he said.

The concept, designed by Johnson Sports Architecture, a Calgary-based firm, plans to extensively renovate the main building core and modernize the facility. Special care will be taken to make the building gender-friendly.

Some highlights of the renovation include:

o Revamping the change rooms to make them gender equitable;

o Improving washroom facilities;

o Replacing the four North American squash courts with a dance/fitness studio and administrative offices; and

o Amalgamating the athletic lounges with the 'Golden Hawk Lounge of Fame'.