Universal Gym Membership.

geranamo

Free gym membership has been a hot top since the Kingfisher opened in 2008. Back in 2010/2011 the then SU Clubs' Captain tried to hold a referendum to increase the student levy by €99.99 that would give u.g.m for all NUIG students. However the referendum never went ahead. I want to know how many of you would support u.g.m. But have a think about the following two points:
(1) We already pay €100 of the student levy to pay the loans that were borrowed to build the kingfisher. We have another 10 years of repayments left on that. We would have to increase the levy again to pay for the running of the building if we wanted u.g.m. All together every student would pay a total of €200 for "free" access. Would you like to see a increase in the levy just to get a reduction of €50 from the standard rate of gym membership.
(2) Even if u.g.m became a reality, would this not lead to overcrowding. There is already 3000 students who pay membership. Imagine if all 17000 students had access to the kingfisher. You would have lines of people waiting to use the equipment.

Personally I am happy to pay €250 every year without going into an overcrowded gym. I go in the morning, so I don't know about the evening. Maybe there should be a monthly membership or academic rate for those that are only in Galway for one term of nine months.
What do you all think?

QuantumP

I think increasing the levy is a bad idea as not every single student would be interested and it would be unfair to force a charge onto people who wouldn't benefit from it. Monthly/academic or even a semester rate would be best imho!

Blackpanther95

No, absolutely not. Hardcore users will suffer as the kingfisher is simply too small, I just don't know how people fail to understand that.

In my opinion there should be no open gym in September, and the first time joining fee should be dearer to stop people joining and then quitting. The elite gym should also be open to people who have been going for more than two years.

Somehow its always the people that don't go to the gym that want a free gym!

Also the kingfisher is used for the clubs so the student levy is fair.

The Lost Sheep

Im a member of Kingfisher but would be happy enough if non members could pay as you go and use gym more than they currently are allowed to. I know its hard to compare gym to the gym in UL but the gym there you can pay as you go or become a member and non members can use gym/pool etc whenever they want and are not restricted to using gym/pool for only 3/4 hours a day

Blackpanther95

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Im a member of Kingfisher but would be happy enough if non members could pay as you go and use gym more than they currently are allowed to. I know its hard to compare gym to the gym in UL but the gym there you can pay as you go or become a member and non members can use gym/pool etc whenever they want and are not restricted to using gym/pool for only 3/4 hours a day

But you don't know just how small the gym actually is. There are two benches (for bench presses), now every lad who comes there once, guess what, wants to bench, and so we're waiting up to half an hour to do one exercise.

So the current system is fairer on the hardcore users than the proposed one, but I guess all the hardcores such as myself could go to a gym across town. Its not practical but ...

Chuckieawrlaw

Too packed as it is

laoch na mona

there should be something to force the kingfishers to stop ripping people off

Blackpanther95

laoch na mona wrote: »

there should be something to force the kingfishers to stop ripping people off

How are they ripping people off?

laoch na mona

Blackpanther95 wrote: »

How are they ripping people off?

not having term membership is a rip off for students who don't live in galway

Blackpanther95

laoch na mona wrote: »

not having term membership is a rip off for students who don't live in galway

€250 a rip off for 8/9 even 10 (if you're repeating) months membership wouldn't even be a rip off. Its more likely they would just say €300 for the full year, and all of you who don't live in Galway would think your making a saving.

Put it this way, €27 per month versus €20 a month. The cost of two pints extra for those of you who don't live in Galway.

laoch na mona

Blackpanther95 wrote: »

€250 a rip off for 8/9 even 10 (if you're repeating) months membership wouldn't even be a rip off. Its more likely they would just say €300 for the full year, and all of you who don't live in Galway would think your making a saving.

Put it this way, €27 per month versus €20 a month. The cost of two pints extra for those of you who don't live in Galway.

i still feel robbed having to pay for membership i wont be there to use

justBlake

its way too small to offer U.G.M. its over crowded half the time as it is!

@laoch na mona, serious you think kingfisher is ripping you off? its 250 a yr, if your a student your already in college most days (well, you should be), so convinience is 10/10. I dont live in galway year round so I can kinda see your point but, if you can find a gym with that convinience and equipment, thats cheaper than 250 a yr, please tell me where...YOU WONT.

laoch na mona

justBlake wrote: »

its way too small to offer U.G.M. its over crowded half the time as it is!

@laoch na mona, serious you think kingfisher is ripping you off? its 250 a yr, if your a student your already in college most days (well, you should be), so convinience is 10/10. I dont live in galway year round so I can kinda see your point but, if you can find a gym with that convinience and equipment, thats cheaper than 250 a yr, please tell me where...YOU WONT.

i know its not that bad it just annoys me