If students at the main campus vote to increase fees to fund campus improvements, it could pave the way for ASU East's future student government to initiate a similar referendum.
East campus officials say that students are interested in improving recreation facilities there.
"If main campus students approve the increased fee for improvements on their Student Recreation Complex and Memorial Union then it will be easier to pass a future referendum here at east campus to improve our facilities," said Jeremy Art, interim student government president.
Gary McGrath, dean of student affairs for the east campus, would like the student government to start an information gathering pro-cess, invite experts to East and host focus groups. The students would then begin the process of organizing a referendum to approve fees for what they decide is important to them.
"Once the government is established we'd like the opportunity to see if we could institute a referendum at East," McGrath said.
When east campus students do create a referendum it will most likely be similar to the one that will be voted on at main campus on Feb. 18 and the 19.
"Currently the priority is to first establish a student government," Art said. In February we will need candidates to run for offices and then we will hold elections.
In the fall and spring we would probably hold open forums so that students here at East can say what they want or don't want to use the fees for."
McGrath said that giving students the time and opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas is an important step.
"We want to give students time to think it over and see what the possibilities are," McGrath added. "We need to get people together and ask, 'What would you like to see?' then prioritize."
Howard Taylor, director of recreation and student activities for the main campus, said he has met with east campus officials to discuss the referendum process and how an SRC would fit into the lives of ASU East students.
"I shared what we have going on at main - the programming, the referendum process ... so hopefully, when they choose to do this they won't make the same mistakes," Taylor said.
Brandon Goad, president of the undergraduate student government at ASU Main said, "The SRC at Main is a model the rest of the nation follows.
"Even though east and west campus will not vote in this [February] election, east can leave room for their own [fee] increases in the future."
"One day there will be facilities running on each campus so fees will be across the board."
Larry Woodruff, a senior lecturer in the department of exercise and wellness, said the current Physical Activity Center at ASU East doesn't serve students well.
The PAC consists of three small gyms and one small fitness center containing some dumbbells, ten weight training machines and six cardio machines. The campus also has a track, a softball field and a pool that is open only in summer.
"The problem that we have is that hours are limited at the PAC," Woodruff said. "One reason is because of classes and the other is because we have no budget to hire a person to monitor the facility.
"As we grow we will need to hold more classes and that will also limit the open gym time available at the PAC."
The PAC is open for general use between noon and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The cost to use the facility is $30 per semester, which includes membership to Chandler-Gilbert Com-munity College's fitness center.
