PUB renovation gets slim student approval to proceed

Students at Eastern Washington University recently gave their approval, albeit by a relatively small margin, to move ahead with plans to remodel the Pence Union Building on campus.

By a vote in late February of 1,052-983, a 51.2 percent yes margin, students approved raising approximately $30 million to significantly remodel the five decade-old student union center.

"We're just glad to see great numbers, a great turnout vote," Associated Students of Eastern Washington University President, Dahir "DJ" Jigre said.

By contrast, students approved a major fee increase of $55 per person in 2005 to fund the University Recreation Center by nearly 80 percent.

The closeness of the vote to initially add an additional $65 to each student's fees, reflected a number of different concerns they have over the issue, Jigre said.

On one hand, he said, "Students always complained about not enough power outlets, lack of dining options and lighting." But those students who will graduate before the remodel is complete are saying they don't want to be charged for something they will not use.

So a stepped approach was presented to hopefully make all sides happy. A $65-$69 per quarter fee starting in 2015 will get the funding started. It will increase to $80-$85 per quarter starting in 2018.

Part of the close vote, Jigre said, might be akin to the "sticker shock" taxpayers face when confronted by requests for more of their money to be used for roads, schools, transit and the like.

"We're students, too, and we know what everybody's comfortable paying," Jigre said. "The word fee is a scary thought, especially an increased fee."

The effort was made to keep the added cost under what Jigre called the three-digit range or below $100. "We wanted to keep it realistic, something we could afford," he said.

Student fees now run $627 a year, over and above tuition, room and board, Jigre said. Those include tech fees, health insurance and the Recreation Center, among other things.

The URC has been very popular. "Students are able to utilize it, they have a place to go ice skating, have some fancy dinner at the Roost, and the best part is they are able to go to the gym and get a great workout," Jigre said."

"It's a very inexpensive health club membership."

Back in 2005 and 2006 the students had no idea what the benefits were going to be, Jigre explained. "They still voted for it and my generation is using it," Jigre said."

Reviving the appeal of the PUB is a goal Jigre said they want to see accomplished.

They really wanted to focus creating pride and currently this building doesn't really captivate students, Jigre said.

The current PUB structure has in excess of $10 million in deferred maintenance, Jigre said. Patching patches was not an option.

"I asked students when we were campaigning about the building: 'What is the one building that really tells that you enjoyed your time here, (and) when you do graduate you'll come back, besides their department and the red field?'" he said.

The room was silent.

"This is why we are bringing this project to you so when you become an alum you have a place to come back to, you have a place to enjoy," Jigre said. "You want to be able to express that pride of being an Eagle."

The Pence Union Building (PUB) was built in 1970 with a major addition in 1995. The building was named for Omer O. Pence, an EWU grad and faculty member.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.