Proposed expansion of the center would provide better facilities for women's sports, a second gym for recreation, additional exercise and weight rooms, an indoor track, an athletic training room, instructional space and a space where 7,000 people could gather at once. Students want that space for Phoenix basketball games, graduation, freshman orientation, Fall Festival and other student-organized activities or conferences. The sports center expansions are to serve the needs of all students, not just those on a team. But the desire for a Phoenix home court has also spurred planning. The Phoenix men played 16 games last year at the Brown County Veterans memorial Arena, and the women play there occasionally.
Students say it's hard to get revved up for a team without a campus home.
That's one of the reasons senior Dave Meyer, who has one more year at UWGB, supports the improvements. No state tax dollars can be used to build or expand unions. State funding for UW schools has to be used to support academic programs. Schools typically turn to student fees or donations to fund union expansions. Student government leaders vote annually on segregated fees, which support student organizations and activities.