2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor
Pam Su, Director of Campus Recreation
Issue date: 12/7/05 Section: Editorial
I would like to correct an item reported in the Nov. 9th article, Arminana answers student questions at luncheon. It was reported that solar panels were not installed at the Rec Center because the project went over budget during construction. As someone who worked very closely with the project, I can say with great pride that construction of the Rec Center DID NOT go over budget.
The reason why the Rec Center has not installed solar panels yet is because the amount of project funds budgeted for solar panels was based upon being able to receive state rebates. By receiving these rebates, student fees, which funded the Recreation Center, would only be paying $.50 for every dollar spent on solar. However, at the time it came to the point of solar installation in 2004, due to high demand, these rebates were no longer available to us. We have reapplied for rebates in 2005 with no luck, and will again in 2006.
If rebates do not become available, the solar portion may not be as large as originally planned or other funds may have to be identified through fundraising, grants, or other sources. However, the plan continues to pursue an installation of solar panels at the Rec Center, supporting even further its mission of becoming a model for sustainability.
Finally, Id like to point out the Rec Center projects finances were very well managed because of the immense cooperation by a team of individuals from the Sonoma Student Union, the Capital Planning, Design, and Construction Offices, Administration & Finance, contractors, and architects. As a steward of student fees, we at the Sonoma Student Union Corporation have always been very careful to make wise decisions with these funds, and this project has been no different!
The reason why the Rec Center has not installed solar panels yet is because the amount of project funds budgeted for solar panels was based upon being able to receive state rebates. By receiving these rebates, student fees, which funded the Recreation Center, would only be paying $.50 for every dollar spent on solar. However, at the time it came to the point of solar installation in 2004, due to high demand, these rebates were no longer available to us. We have reapplied for rebates in 2005 with no luck, and will again in 2006.
If rebates do not become available, the solar portion may not be as large as originally planned or other funds may have to be identified through fundraising, grants, or other sources. However, the plan continues to pursue an installation of solar panels at the Rec Center, supporting even further its mission of becoming a model for sustainability.
Finally, Id like to point out the Rec Center projects finances were very well managed because of the immense cooperation by a team of individuals from the Sonoma Student Union, the Capital Planning, Design, and Construction Offices, Administration & Finance, contractors, and architects. As a steward of student fees, we at the Sonoma Student Union Corporation have always been very careful to make wise decisions with these funds, and this project has been no different!