University of Utah student body leaders and administrators still hold out hope for a new recreation center on campus even though a legislative appropriations committee Thursday denied a request to finance the $37.9 million project. The proposal was doomed by a 5-3 vote in the Capital Facilities Administrative Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
The project required lawmakers' approval to finance bonds for construction costs and to build the facility on state-owned land. Backers said the bonds would be repaid by a hike in student fees and private donations.
Every year, lawmakers hear a "hue and cry" from students about the high cost of tuition, said Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, a subcommittee member. "Now we have studentbody officers come in and say no student is going to complain about raising fees another $120 a year for a recreation facility most of them will never use."
Harper said students who didn't support the proposed recreation facility urged him to vote "no."
The state Board of Regents and the University of Utah Trustees endorsed the facility and approved the boost in students' fees to repay the bonds over a 30-year period.
"We hope the Legislature would reconsider it," Regents spokeswoman Amanda Covington said Friday.
Harper acknowledged nothing is over until the 45-day session ends March 1. U. officials and student leaders could try to amend the request and get it on the floor, he said.
