Student Recreation Center officials are putting final touches on the new fingerprint entrances.

The Rec Center began registering students with the fingerprint scanner terminals, on Wednesday.

“”We spent $50,000 on the hardware, software, turnstyles and the scanners,”” said Melissa Dryden, senior program coordinator for UA Planning, Design and Construction.

No student fees or tuition money were used to fund the project.

“”The initial money came from bookstore reserves because we typically invest,”” said Frank Farias, executive director, UA Bookstores and Entrepreneurial Initiatives. “”There is a repayment process that returns that money to the bookstore.””

Students complained that the check-in process took too long .

“”The previous process of moving people in and out of the Rec Center was slow and had a lot of inconvenience for students,”” he added. “”If you forgot your Cat Card, you have to go back and get it or pay a fee. This is an attempt to be responsive to student feedback.””

There are three fingerprint scanners and one device with a Cat Card reader.

“”I’m going to guess because we’re talking on the order of 24-30,000 fingerprints that it’s going to be a month or more (to complete),”” said Ron Roberts, senior business manager for Campus Recreation.

Roberts hopes to have registering stations in the lobby and visit various campus locations like residence halls.

Some students are skeptical of the new system.

“”I understand the practical use of it, but something doesn’t sit right with me,”” said Christopher Olson, a psychology sophomore. “”If they can ensure security, then it’s all right.””

Rec Center officials say that the scanners don’t save the fingerprint, but instead crate an algorithm to identify each student.

“”It is virtually impossible to recreate a fingerprint from the algorithm without the original print,”” Roberts said. “”The two algorithms would be different depending on how I scanned it, like if I pressed (my) finger harder, rolled pressed hard to the right or left on finger scan for longer.””

The scanners are part of a renovation plan for the original center.

The $3.5 million project began in May, and is expected to be complete by December.

The weights and equipment from the front weight room were moved into the expansion. The space was remodeled to resemble the expansion.

“”The floors now look the same as the addition, and we introduced glass and the architectural angles  the same with the addition,”” Farias said.

The next phase of expansion is a café on the northeast corner of the original weight room that will be open in January.