Round and round we go: UAF athletes seek a space to practice

By Aaron Thomas

The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ cross country team practicing on the indoor track in the student recreation center has become a topic of concern for some Student Recreation Center, or SRC, members. According to director of the SRC Mark Oldmixon, the team has utilized the track for the last three winters.

Photo by Colin A. Warren

Walkers and UAF cross country athletes share the track at the UAF student recreation center.

While UAF has no official track team, many UAF cross country athletes practice together in the SRC to participate in spring track and field events on an individual basis. 

“Alright, where are we supposed to run,” said Finn Morley, a senior at UAF who runs for the cross country team. “SRC is a great place to train, the SRC is the only place for us to train in the winter.”

“I think there's a lot of nuance to it. They're student athletes, individual student athletes that have 100% right to use the facility,” said Oldmixon. 

“The athletes are good stewards and do their best to share the space in a manner that preserves everyone's ability to enjoy the facility,” said Conrad Haber, the head coach of the cross country team. He also noted that the SRC is currently the only indoor track facility in Fairbanks, so athletes have no other option. “I'm hopeful that UAF will sponsor a track & field team in the near future,” said Haber.

Oldmixon said that he heard “some general disappointment” from students using the fitness studio that have to cross the track to bring equipment back and forth. He said while the entire team is training at the same time, it has the potential to overcrowd the track. 

“Often when they're using the track as a group, they're cutting corners, literally just leaving the running lane into the walking lane at the corner,” said Oldmixon. He also acknowledged that lane cutting is an issue that is not limited to the track athletes and that there are “probably 100 people a day that do that.”

“I do my thing, they do their thing,” said Brandon Stevens, an SRC user. Stevens seemed unconcerned with the use of the SRC by the track team. “If they don't like being there with the team there, they could go at a slightly different time,” said Stevens. 

Oldmixon also cited two formal complaints against the SRC but said the issue was largely a “first world problem.” He also said that he has seen no budget losses due to the track team's SRC usage. 

With the exception of the ice rink, the main SRC facility is funded primarily by the student consolidated fee, with supplementary income coming from community users. Every credit hour has a $56 student consolidated fee attached to it, 11.5% of which funds the SRC. 

ASUAF Senator Eugene Wiltz introduced a senate motion to “affirm ASUAF’s support for the UAF cross-country running and track program” while still ensuring that the SRC remains a “shared space where general student access and considerate use are prioritized.” The motion affirmed UAF developing a track program with the stipulation that the team should prioritize practicing outside of peak hours to the greatest extent possible. The Senate resolution also stated that “student-athletes are students first and entitled to access student-funded facilities.”

Wiltz said that a variety of different clubs utilized the space in the SRC, such as the volleyball club. According to Wiltz, a more formal track team hasn’t been able to form because they “haven’t been granted the same allowances” as other teams. 

While the SRC has declined requests to let Lathrop and West Valley track teams practice on the indoor track, the UAF track athletes are not an official team and practice with their own personal memberships. 

The Senate resolution is still being workshopped as it heads to the external affairs committee. ASUAF President Jackson Nelson sent out a survey to the student body to gain feedback on students who use the SRC. 

“I would encourage the student government before passing the resolution to seek broad input from the student body to get a valuable opinion from all users,” said Oldmixon.