Rec showers still lack heat

The Student Recreation Fitness Center has been out of hot water since last March, and it could be Spring Break before the problem gets fixed.

Mary Chappell, director of KU Recreation Services, said the problem originated with the water softener when the building was first opened. A design malfunction kept the softener from working properly and caused corrosion in the converter that delivers hot and cold water.

The repairs will cost a minimum $25,000 and could take at least another 45 days to complete the project.

"We've had several of what we call band-aid fixes where facilities operations has come down and tried to figure out how they can tweak the system a little bit to get a little bit more hot water," Chappell said. "Every time that happens obviously there are more labor charges, so no I hope it doesn’t go much higher but we have to be realistic about it.”

The money for the repairs will come from the construction funds for the new addition to the Rec Center. Chappell said there was a contingency fund set up for emergencies. The Student Senate sold 1,500 student seats to the athletics department who sold the seats to fund the Rec Center expansion.

Chappell said showers were available at Robinson Gymnasium until the repairs at the rec center were completed.

“We want everybody to have a great experience when they come to the rec center but it’s just like everything else, sometimes things just don’t work the way you want them to," Chappell said. "We have to deal with it every day and just hope that everyone will be patient with us and cooperate until we can get it fixed.”