Students at CSU East Bay are growing more anxious to hear word of the re-opening of the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAW) gymnasium after a soccer ball struck a fire sprinkler that caused a serious flood on March 5.

Many students who utilize the gym are involved in sports such as basketball, volleyball, dodge ball and indoor soccer.

What is unique about the incident is the speed in which the staff and committee reacted to finish the problem before it became worse.

The act of draining the leakage in the gym would have been a more difficult feat if it were not for the staff taking immediate action.

Many students heard speculation of the effects of the gym and what caused the flood, but many pondered about how it would affect RAW entrance fees.

“Most of the damage are covered by insurance so students do not have to worry about increased fee’s in regards to RAW Fee’s stated,” Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Director Randy K. Saffold explained.

Saffold then stated because the staff that was on hand handled the situation the best they could that further damages were avoided.

“What could have happened is if the staff didn’t take initiative, the floors would have been so damaged where the floors would have to completely be remodeled,” stated Saffold.

Even though the gym floor has been renovated, students are still not allowed access to the courts due to other problems.

“We’re waiting on a new series of fire sprinkler cages that will at least take another four weeks,” stated Krista Smith, director of the RAW center.

Students waited for the day the gym opened, especially the individuals who participated in the intramural basketball leagues and played for teams such as Cancer Park, Hittas, 1046, Stacked, Justice League, Knockdown, L.A.X as well as the other teams.

The gymnasium which used to be filled during intramural basketball, soccer and volleyball games would be engulfed with “ooohs and ahhs” from the crowd of students, with many being on-campus residents who screamed and cheered for their favorite teams during times where they had not much else to do but attend the intramural games.

“We want to reopen the gym just as much as every student who doesn’t have access to it currently,” Smith explained.

ASI sent out mass emails to the student body in order to enlighten and bring more clarity about the capacity in which the RAW center was operating to inform students that the fitness center and all other aspects of the RAW center are open for use.

Another point of contention amongst students about the impact the flood has had on RAW center services became evident when the intramural programs offered this quarter were published.

In Winter quarter, the RAW center offered three different sports, basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer with two leagues each as opposed basketball being the only sport offered with three leagues this quarter.

With no access to the gym inside of the RAW center, ASI Recreation had to get in contact with the Kinesiology department and will be using the gym in the Kinesiology building to hold their games for the quarter.