Ryan ChartrandStudents enrolled in Cal Poly’s bowling classes are finding they have less money to spare since the fee for course materials has increased this year.
The one-unit PE 109 and 112 classes are a popular choice for soon-to-be graduating students needing an extra unit of credit. Roughly 600 students take a bowling class each quarter.
Last year, students enrolled in the classes were required to pay $40 for use of Mustang Lanes shoes and bowling balls. This year, that fee increased to $65 per quarter.
Steve Goldie, a Cal Poly graduate and instructor of both classes, said the increase was necessary considering the inflation of material, equipment and replacement part costs incurred by Mustang Lanes.
“We’re just trying to break even,” Goldie said. “Before this year we had not raised our fee in six years.”
Last year, Goldie presented to Associated Students Inc. a projected four-year forecast of costs incurred by Mustang Lanes by offering the classes. With the price of everything from bowling shoes to pins rising substantially since 2002, Mustang Lanes faced a deficit unless it acquired more funds.
According to Goldie, the average bowling alley experiences 25 games per lane, per day. With bowling classes being offered every hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., four days a week, Mustang Lanes endures roughly 45 to 50 games per lane, per day.
“We were reaching a point where we would either have to raise the fee, cut back the number of classes we could offer, or cancel them altogether,” Goldie said.
Many students understand the need for a higher fee.
“It’s fine with me, I look forward to this class every time,” recreation senior Jamie Becker said. “The fee is totally worth it.”
Other students are less keen about the increase.
“Sixty-five dollars is pretty ridiculous for a one-unit class,” biomedical engineering freshman Alden Gaines said.
Other students agree.
“The class is really fun, but $65 dollars is a lot for one-unit,” wine and viticulture senior Mecaela Miller said. “I almost dropped when I found out about the fee.”
However, staff and ASI maintain the fee is reasonable and comparable to rising tuition fees and inflation costs.
“It’s much cheaper than what you pay to be in a league,” Goldie said.