As part of a new policy added to the Recreation Center this past month, any inappropriate behavior that violates the Rec’s rules or Ashland’s behavioral policies in the Student Handbook can lead to a removal of access to the Rec’s programs and facilities. According to the new policy, “These individuals include students (full-time, part-time, graduate and seminary), faculty, staff, members, and their guests.”

The policy is not necessarily new, but is more of a revision of an existing policy. According to Janel Molnar, the director of recreational services, the change is the inclusion of faculty, staff and members into the policy. It existed before with the different types of students and their guests but not for the three other groups.

“This was something they we realized we didn’t have,” Molnar said. “Typically, additions to policy are done in the summer but we wanted to get this one in right away.”

Molnar had researched other Recreational Center policies at other schools such as Western Michigan University, California State University and Virginia Tech and noticed a trend in the policies regarding inappropriate behavior. Using an e-mail list server, Molnar asked colleges and universities such as these for information regarding this topic and formulated the new policy.

Other policy changes are being discussed and, if approved, will be enacted over the summer. These policy changes include more specific terms regarding membership to the Rec, rules regarding hitting or kicking balls at the lights on the Mac Court, and rules for continuation in Rec programs after a severe injury sustained at the Rec.

Another policy change being considered regards Alumni privileges at the Rec. Many Ashland University alumni reside close to Ashland campus, either in Ashland city or in other surrounding areas. These alumni commonly call the Rec about buying seven or thirty day passes to the Rec. The new policy would reaffirm that alumni are not and have never been eligible for these passes.

Molnar explains that the seven and thirty day passes may in a later time be opened to alumni but that would be paired with a cap to regulate how many are given out.

“We plan on using participation caps for decisions in the future,” Molnar said. These day passes have been open to faculty, staff, graduate and seminary students but have never been open to alumni.