Students’ Thoughts on the Delayed Ravelin Sports Centre
This article was originally published to Spyglass Magazine in August 2022.
Many students have been left waiting in anticipation for the opening of the Ravelin Sports Centre, which was postponed from its original date December 2021. In the runup to its new unveiling “sometime in 2022”, I decided to ask students for their thoughts and opinions on the university’s extravagant new gym.
Many of the students I spoke to expressed excitement about the upcoming Sports Centre. Its unique set of facilities were praised, particularly the inclusion of rock climbing and a swimming pool, both of which Portsmouth has lacked previously. It was also considered by some to be reasonably cheap, with the most expensive student plan rivalling commercial gyms at £22.50 a month. More lavish features such as the sauna and steam room are also usually only available in expensive leisure centres.
However, many questioned why the university had bothered to build a gym this grandiose when many of its departments are underfunded and facilities in disrepair. Multiple students referenced Burnaby building, where holes in the roof and subsequent flooding had caused damage to priceless fossils. Others shared their concerns about the future of creative subjects, with one student saying they worry these areas are “dying” due to a lack of support and “outdated, partly broken or incomplete equipment”. Another said it feels like the university is “focusing on becoming a sports-based university” whilst “massively ignoring” other areas. One event which sprung to mind personally was the culling of the English Literature department last year. In spite of widespread student protest and a petition which reached over 13,000 signatures, the university made seven of its Lit lecturers redundant, over half of its staff members. This was cited a ‘business case’ decision.
You’re probably starting to wonder why the university has put so much money into the Ravelin Sports Centre- a whopping £57 million if you weren’t already aware- when they supposedly can’t afford to protect artefacts or keep departments open. Given that students are being charged to use the facilities and that they are open to the public at a marked up price, I’d assume it was another one of their business decisions. It was pointed out that our welfare is supposed to be at the heart of the university’s policy, but by neglecting to offer us a free place of exercise, they’ve made it obvious that profit is more important to them.
Although the monthly cost wasn’t deemed outrageously expensive, many were shocked that us students have to pay at all, given that our tuition fees funded this project in the first place. As one person phrased it, “we’re essentially being made to pay to build a sports centre twice”. Others expressed frustration over the packages on offer. Those interested in climbing felt it was unfair they would be forced to pay £20 a month just to access these facilities, and those looking to take aqua classes were upset to find they are not included within any membership (instead they cost £7.50 per 55 minute class).
Overall, whilst there is enthusiasm over the new Ravelin Sports Centre and the diverse set of facilities it has to offer, the fact of the matter is that many of us simply cannot afford it. By pumping such a large amount of money into an ostentatious, for-profit gym whilst letting other departments suffer from underfunding, the university has made clear what its priorities are. The success and wellbeing of its students is clearly not one of them.
