The gym management decided to cut back on hours of operation this semester, saying the decrease of hours is due to budget cuts.

Dawn Sanner, director of facilities and operations, said Carmichael Gym has requested fee increases for the past few years in order to keep up with rising costs, but these requests have been denied each year.

But, according to a bill from last year’s session of Student Senate, the students recommended that $22 of a $24-increase be granted, which was approved. This was an increase from the previous year’s fee, in addition to the fact that the number of students who attended the University has increased.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford though said the gym actually requested at $22 increase and only received $15 after the whole process was over.

The first few years without the requested increase, Carmichael made up for the lack of funds by cutting back on maintenance projects, according to Sanner.

“For example, if something was supposed to be changed every three years, we held it on for four,” she said. “Unfortunately, when it came to this year, we just couldn’t do that anymore.”

Sanner said the gym was forced to cut back hours to make up for the funding problems. She said they have also raised member rates and are trying to use the gym for outside purposes during nonacademic periods to bring in additional revenue.

“That was the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do was to cut hours,” she said. “We looked at every option we could, and there was nothing [else] we could do.”

Stafford said although the gym’s last fee increase request was not approved, it should’ve have been.

“It was justified and for reasons that are still beyond my comprehension,” he said. “The committee voted not to recommend the full amount that was requested.”

He said the fee increase that was requested was necessary in order to continue gym operations at the current hours.

“So, when the fee committee recommended a smaller amount than the increase, it meant that somewhere, somehow, the operation had to be cut back,” he said.

But, the two dollars that were not approved were allotted to paying temporary jobs at the gym, which some Student Senators said they felt was unfair to have other students paying for.

News Editor Saja Hindi and Deputy News Editor Anne Rudisill contributed to this story