Students Frustrated with Gym Overcrowding

By: Julie Grieco
Posted In: Sports

Whether it’s the snowy weather or the plague of New Year’s resolutions, our Salve Fitness Center seems to be the focus of our return! Any avid gym-goer can see that since winter break, the amount of people using our facilities has doubled. “There’s always a big spike when we come back from break,” says Fitness Director Tom Blaney.

Sure, this is a good thing, our student bodies working on our “student bodies,” but for members of our athletic teams and those who are merely regulars, the occupied machines are leaving us frustrated and discouraged. Even Pete Rice, who works the daily morning shift, has noticed this trend. “People are coming earlier and it’s much heavier. They’re waiting for machines earlier than the same times last year,” he said.

What do the numbers show? According to the card swipe record, which Blaney feels “accounts for about seventy percent of the actual sample,” the average pre-Christmas break day would bring in a crowd in the lower 100 range. Most recently, they’ve been getting 150 – 200 people a day. The overcrowding is causing a substantial backup on the cardio equipment, with waiting lines up to 20 minutes at its busiest points.

Where do the conflicts lie? There is supposed to be a 30 minute rule, yet no one is quite sure how it’s supposed to be enforced. Blaney is looking into a new system where there’s a numbered board with coordinating treadmills where you can write down the start times, clearly showing how long a machine has been in use. Yet, even if he were to enforce this concept, there is still an inefficient amount of machines to support the demand.

Blaney explains that “to bring something new in, something’s got to leave. The most we could fit would be one more treadmill and one more elliptical.” It also has to be noted that there is an elliptical that has been broken for six weeks now. At this point, even that one machine could save someone the extra 20 minute wait, potentially helping at least ten students use their time more efficiently. Rice suggests that if we want changes, we students should make use of the suggestion box located next to the card swipe.

When is the best time to go? If you think you’re brave enough go during the day, but you want to avoid the crowd, steer clear of the nine-to-five. Based on the latest charts Blaney presented, the busiest times are nine in the morning and five in the afternoon, with everything in between comprising the bulk of the facilities’ use. He also assures us that there is “no hierarchy for student or staff.” Everyone has to wait for their turn, regardless of their age or ability.

At this point, begging Mother Nature for an early spring looks to be the best option. The warmer weather would eliminate the need for treadmills by clearing off the Cliffwalk and giving the fitness-minded the luxuries of open space and Newport scenery.

Yet, if our luck fails and we’re stuck indoors for any longer than necessary, remember to keep your composure. “People should be more considerate,” says Rice, “and try to share the equipment.” I guess until spring comes, all students can do is stick it out!