Have you ever wanted the opportunity to do something great that will impact a large group of people? Do you ever wonder how the people that do get started? Well, now is your chance to be one of those people that does something monumental for UTM. It starts with each one of us exercising our right as a student to vote.

Get Active! Don’t let this great opportunity to improve our campus pass us by. We are the ones with the influence to put this plan into action and if this opportunity isn’t exercised then it will be lost. This is a chance to make a difference for the future of UTM. Did you know that UTM is the only university in Tennessee with over 4,000 students that does not have a facility dedicated solely to student recreation? UTM will be much more competitive for students with this type facility. Student ambassadors feel that this facility would be a great selling point during their presentations to the students that visit this campus.

I’m sure you can tell by now where I stand on this proposal, but let me tell you more about why.

Many of you have already heard the proposal and have heard the numbers, but as a reminder: over 3,000 students participated in intramurals on 248 teams last year and over 42,000 people utilized the fitness center, over 53,000 students used the Elam Center for recreational purposes. Recreation is a big part of the lives of many students here at UTM. This is not only for those who enjoy these facilities and programs now, but also for those who will in the future.

Don’t let the vote slip by because you think it doesn’t affect you. It does! Sure, you may not be paying the facility debt, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that the students in the future will not have to wait in line for a treadmill like you did; they won’t be kicked off a basketball court because an athletic team has to practice, and they will always have a place open for them to workout and enjoy because it was built for THEM and THEY are top priority.

This is very important and as I said earlier, we are the ones with the decision to make. I know when the SGA vote comes Thursday that you all will have put forth the effort to get this proposal passed and we will have another reason to be proud to be students at UT Martin. Thank you for your time in reading this and don’t forget to get active!

SGA passed the recreation center last Thursday. Article about the recreation center appears here.