Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) passed a proposal Tuesday to extend the hours of the Watson Fitness Center to midnight from its current closing time of 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Last Friday BSG sent an email survey to students informing them of the proposal and seeking their input.
"The poll of the students was simply to provide the voting members on BSG a sense of what the student body wishes to see happen," BSG Vice President of Facilities Derrick Wong said.
After reviewing over 400 responses, 95 percent of which were affirmative, BSG approved the budget to extend the center's hours.
"Students would like to have more access to the center and expanding the hours would provide that," Dean of Student Affairs Craig Bradley said.
"The student input seemed strong that longer hours at Watson would be utilized and it therefore became the goal of the Committee of Facilities, Properties, and Recreation to look into the possibilities more," Wong said.
BSG brought the proposal to Bradley and Athletic Director Jeff Ward on Monday and offered to cover the cost of the monitor's additional hours until spring break.
BSG Vice President for Student Affairs Alex Cornell du Houx said that the budget for the monitoring wages was capped at $1,000 for the semester.
The organization will use some of the funds it receives from the Student Activities Fee Committee to cover the costs.
"This is significant because the college would not otherwise have the means to cover these additional costs this year," Bradley said.
BSG established a committee to monitor the effects of the extension.
"If the extension is successful, it is very likely BSG will continue to budget for the program following the break," BSG President Haliday Douglas said.
Jared Swanson '07 co-wrote a letter to the Orient last month about overcrowding in the gym.
After hearing of the changes Wednesday, Swanson said, "The hours will help, but it is not the final solution."
Douglas said the fitness center's new hours should go in effect sometime within the week.
"I'm anxious to see how many students take advantage of the new hours," Ward said.