Though FAMU’s Health initiatives — like GetFitFAMU — promote better living, the change in time schedules at the Hansel E. Tookes Recreation Center has become a deterrent for students who work out.
“Budget cuts have caused The Rec Center’s hours to be reduced,” Crystal Bennette, building supervisor for the recreational center, said.
Hansel E. Tookes Recreational Center or “The Rec” as many students call it, is now running on a three-block time schedule: 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For the 2014-2015 academics school year the Student Government Association has allocated a little over $580,000 to The Rec. That is $100,000 less than the last school year.
Bennette discussed the frustration many students have shown towards the new hours.
“Just be patient with us until we can get the hours back to normal,” Bennette said.
Many students use the Rec Center for their daily workout and have become disappointed with the change in hours
“Instead of it being all day like last year, it’s like now you have to plan for the three-hour blocks” Ian Gayle, a second-year bio-medical engineering student said.
Briana Martin, a third-year business administration student, shared her sentiments on the new hours.
“The hour blocks are causing the gym to be more packed because now you have to make it for those designated hours,” Martin said.
The Rec Center still wants students to know that they are working hard to get the hours back to normal, but they encourage students to be proactive in talking to student government and expressing how they feel about the new hours.