EDITORIAL: Challenge for UA: Let dead horses lie

the recreation facility usage fee is an issue that doesn't warrant further discussion in or out of UA meetings. In their first power-packed resolution of the year, the UA has gone after a closed issue: Usage fees for recreation facilities. This is something that was discussed awhile back, when the consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey first began its evaluation of the University's facilities. At that time, student survey respondents said they would be willing to pay up to $200 a year in usage fees for an updated facility. And so, when plans for such a facility were released, the fee was set at $125 -- the same amount the University previously charged for use of the Hutchinson Gymnasium fitness room. There was hardly a peep from the UA. What we don't understand is why, now that officials were able to trim the fee to a reasonable $75 a year and students have been lining up to join, the UA complaints have begun in full force. UA member Lisa Lerer said she plans to ask Recreation Director Mike Diorka to justify the need for a fee, but we think Recreation Department officials have been quite clear:They need to subsidize part of the $60 million renovations to Gimbel. The UA does have a point in asking for the fee to be added to the bursar bills of fitness center members. That request can likely be easily accommodated. But even if there is some minor merit to the UA's resolution, putting a non-issue at the top of the year's agenda sends a weak message. We hope to see UA members tackle some more challenging issues before their terms are up in March.