Administration of SF State’s recreational sports program switched hands from the kinesiology department to Student Affairs last month, causing confusion and disappointment within the kinesiology department.

The kinesiology department chair, David Anderson, said the decision was made “behind closed doors” and without of consulting his department.

“Why the secrecy?” Anderson asked.

The recreational sports program offers SF State students various competitive and free play activities such as indoor soccer and basketball.

“Rec. sports is strongly connected with kinesiology because it was born here, and now it’s being ripped out,” he said. “It is going to create a lot of issues.”

Anderson said he found out about the switch, made official on Nov. 1, from President of University Affairs Penny Saffold, but has yet to receive an official statement from President Robert A. Corrigan.

“The decision was made by the cabinet after much study and discussion,” Corrigan stated in an e-mail. “It is part of a larger plan to respond to the changes in student demographics.”

The number of first-time freshmen on the SF State campus has increased annually and the residential community on and around campus has grown as well.

In response to this change in demographics, Student Affairs has become more focused on campus life and school spirit – something this shift in recreational sports is supposed to encourage, Saffold said.

The takeover by Student Affairs is the first step of a new campus program called Recreation-Wellness Center.

Associated Students, Inc. has been making plans for the recreation and wellness center that would be financed and operated by students.

The ASI proposal includen an arena, multi-court gym and swimming pool and would house athletic events along with training, academic space and recreation. A student vote to approve the plan is set for March.

Currently, campus recreation consists of three programs: club sports, intramural sports and open recreation. The programs “provide opportunities for students to participate in sport activities in a structured and competitive setting and on an informal, free play drop-in basis,” according to the official Campus Recreation Department Web site.

The differences between the three are that club sports allows SF State students, faculty and staff to “represent the school on local regional and national intercollegiate level,” whereas intramural sports is a program designed to give its participants “the opportunity to meet new people, to develop leadership skills and keep fit in a fun environment” while competing in intramural leagues and tournaments.

Open recreation is a drop-in program that allows students, faculty and staff to use the gym and the pool individually during open hours.

Reorganization of the three will require some planning due to the fact that Campus Recreation shares the building, rooms and equipment with the kinesiology department.

In addition, Anderson said he feels kinesiology is the department most qualified to house campus recreation due to “expertise in the area.”

Although students organize the programs and are also responsible for generating funds by fundraising and donations, they were “administered by the kinesiology department through the recreation sports program,” Anderson said.

This means that the kinesiology department was responsible for hiring staff.

Saffold, however, disagrees with Anderson, and believes that Student Affairs will be a great home for campus recreation.

“Student Affairs provides services for students 24 hours a day,” she said. “They are focusing on student development, whereas academic programs focus mainly on instruction.”

The project is earning support from some students.

“Even though I probably won’t be here anymore, I think it will be a great addition to the campus,” said Eli Longman, 25, who participates in the intramural program. “But I do think that the plans should be made more public because this is the first time I’ve heard about all this.”

As of now, construction of the Recreation and Wellness Center is planned for the site of the library annexes, said campus planner Wendy Bloom.

However, final decisions will be made in spring after results of a student survey coming out early next semester are in, Saffold said.