Letter to the Editor: Better care, more ownership needed in fitness center
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
An article in the Dec. 5 edition of The DePauw focused on two themes: input on improvements to the Lilly Center and adding more usable space, two areas I agree can be improved.
Another issue is the need to take ownership in what we have. Approximately 85 percent of the equipment will be two years old in May. Wear and tear, however, makes the equipment seem six to seven years old.
Over Winter Term, additional weight plates and other equipment were placed and two sparingly-used pieces were removed. The whole fitness center was cleaned and organized.
Each piece of equipment had enough weight plates to provide adequate resistance without bringing more from another, dumbbells were placed on racks in ascending order, nothing was left on the floor, spin bikes were facing the same direction in a row, all weight plates were racked correctly on each machine and all equipment was cleaned.
Since then, we have observed fitness center use and found:
•Weights not racked and on the floor
•Dumbbells left on floor and removed from dumbbell area
•Body bars spread all over the facility
•Weight belts on the floor
•Weight benches out of place in dumbbell and free weight area
•Physioball rack in pieces and unorganized; physioballs spread all over facility
•Users not spraying down upholstery, cardio machines or physioballs after use
•Cable column accessories unorganized and spread over facility
•Spin bikes unorganized
•Posted rules ignored
Users need to appreciate that it is everyone's responsibility to maintain the facility. This will save money on maintenance, make cleaning easier, prevent the spread of bacteria like Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (see the desk at the entrance) and increase the chances of a gift to expand the fitness center.
We all need to play a part in maintaining a clean appearance. Rack your weights (because no one likes removing 100-pound plates from the leg press), return dumbbells, physioballs, body bars and weight plates and clean equipment appropriately when finished.
If you have a question on how to clean or where to put something ask Corbin Sutton (facility coordinator), a student worker or myself. Hold each other accountable and show we're committed to taking care of what we have.
Roger Dortch-Doan,
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Another issue is the need to take ownership in what we have. Approximately 85 percent of the equipment will be two years old in May. Wear and tear, however, makes the equipment seem six to seven years old.
Over Winter Term, additional weight plates and other equipment were placed and two sparingly-used pieces were removed. The whole fitness center was cleaned and organized.
Each piece of equipment had enough weight plates to provide adequate resistance without bringing more from another, dumbbells were placed on racks in ascending order, nothing was left on the floor, spin bikes were facing the same direction in a row, all weight plates were racked correctly on each machine and all equipment was cleaned.
Since then, we have observed fitness center use and found:
•Weights not racked and on the floor
•Dumbbells left on floor and removed from dumbbell area
•Body bars spread all over the facility
•Weight belts on the floor
•Weight benches out of place in dumbbell and free weight area
•Physioball rack in pieces and unorganized; physioballs spread all over facility
•Users not spraying down upholstery, cardio machines or physioballs after use
•Cable column accessories unorganized and spread over facility
•Spin bikes unorganized
•Posted rules ignored
Users need to appreciate that it is everyone's responsibility to maintain the facility. This will save money on maintenance, make cleaning easier, prevent the spread of bacteria like Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (see the desk at the entrance) and increase the chances of a gift to expand the fitness center.
We all need to play a part in maintaining a clean appearance. Rack your weights (because no one likes removing 100-pound plates from the leg press), return dumbbells, physioballs, body bars and weight plates and clean equipment appropriately when finished.
If you have a question on how to clean or where to put something ask Corbin Sutton (facility coordinator), a student worker or myself. Hold each other accountable and show we're committed to taking care of what we have.
Roger Dortch-Doan,
Assistant Athletic Trainer
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