It was announced Thursday morning that a student referendum approved the rec renovations by a whopping 272 votes - about 1 percent of the total student population. Six thousand, four hundred sixty-six students voted in the election - nearly a quarter of the student body.

It's not a great sampling, though it's not awful, either. But more noticeable is the slim margin it passed by, which qualifies what everyone interested in the issue has known all along: It's hotly divided on campus. It's certainly not unlike the editorial board's discussions and eventual stance on the issue, which took hours and was not unanimous.

There's a lesson to be taken from this vote; namely, the university needs to take a close look at what's being proposed and the comments given by both those in favor of and those opposed to the renovations and refine its plan. Rec Services Director Mike Harvey and Government of the Student Body President Brian Phillips have already made comments to that effect, which is good to see.

It's imperative that we remember that a 272-vote margin is not a mandate for the university to do these renovations and new construction. It's an approval, but that vote can't even confirm that the project has the support of the majority of the student body. Sticking to the budget and keeping input at the forefront of the future steps are critical to the success of this project, and they could go a long way to uniting a divided voting bloc.