EDITORIAL: A weighty issue, worth a look

But without wealthy alumni offering donations to build a state-of-the-art fitness center complex that varsity athletes and weekend warriors could share -- much like the Coles Sports Center at New York University, for example -- the UA's proposal for a temporary fix has real potential. The UA has proposed that the University allocate $75,000 to renovate the former Sports Medicine offices at 33rd and Spruce streets, since that department has relocated to Presbyterian Hospital. These renovations would create a usable facility in better shape than Hutch and Gimbel, while administrators study the possibilities for a permanent, state-of-the-art gym somewhere on campus. Waiting seven to 10 more years for a real on-campus gym isn't appealing, but because that's a realistic timetable, administrators have even greater reason to examine and adopt the UA's proposal. u On the A-3 Assembly: Something isn't right when a group holds elections, and only one percent of its membership decides to vote. When eight positions are open and only four people run for them, the mystery only deepens. The University's support staff and hourly wage workers are some of its most important employees. They get mailings out on time, maintain databases and homepages and learn the arcane rules of purchasing and payroll. Many of these employees -- and the offices and departments in which they work -- will be heavily impacted by administrative restructuring. Although the A-3 Assembly doesn't have any official power, its constituents' viewpoints and concerns should be fully represented to administrators. With this fall's "election," it's doubtful such representation is possible.