The Nat Up! campaign, which advocates a multimillion dollar renovation of the Natatorium gym on the west side of campus, has been at work for months. Employees of UW Rec Sports have been circulating petitions for a new gym at both the Nat and the SERF, the newer gym on the Southeast side of campus. However, in recent weeks a vocal opponent has arisen: the No New Seg Fees! campaign.
Opponents of the new Nat, like Peter Rickman, co-president of the Teaching Assistant union (and chair of 2nd congressional district Dem Party), say the referendum to raise money for the gym through increased student segregated fees is another example of clandestine tuition increases and misplaced priorities.
Tomorrow the two sides will debate at 7 p.m. The only problem is the location is yet to be determined, which I find incredible.
Check out the . Peter and others on his side make sure to point out how snazzy their opponents web operations are, as well as their flyers. It is a convincing rebuke to the notion that Nat Up is a grassroots effort. The campaign represents a huge investment for the university administration, which is constantly under pressure to best its competitors' facilities.