Staying fit or getting more exercise are common New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, even the most disciplined gym-enthusiasts may break these resolutions because of inadequate fitness facilities here.

A Fall 2002 survey found that students, faculty, and other Washington University personnel are unhappy about overcrowding in the Athletic Complex and Wohl Fitness Center. The frustration with overcrowding has led many students to pay $30 per month to join Bally Total Fitness. According to Bally employee Miriam Dixon, Bally signs up an average of three University students each day. Students go to Bally even though the Wohl Fitness Center is only $20 per year.ÿ But this yearly fee neglects hidden costs such as the extra cost for aerobics and Pilates classes.

And the $20 fee is hardly worth it. You’re paying for long lines for elliptical machines, limited weights in Wohl, and old equipment at the AC.

Martha Tillman, director of fitness, explained that while some universities fund athletic programs out of the student activities budget, the University does not. Since the Athletic Department must work within stricter financial constraints, students are charged for membership. Exercise classes are particularly expensive because they have to bring in professional instructors.

Tillman did not believe that the cost of membership to the Wohl Fitness Center is an issue, since “if a person can’t afford nor has any desire to pay a fee, then there are other activities from which to choose.” It doesn’t seem fair, however, to hinder the efforts of students of lesser financial means to get or stay fit by denying them full access to fitness facilities.

It is inappropriate that we can support over 200 student groups but not adequate fitness facilities. While cultural and academic enrichment is important, there should also be a solid commitment to taking care of students’ bodies. The number of people who are overweight underscores this need: the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reported that 15.15 percent of adolescents, and nearly two-third of adults, were overweight in 2000.

Tillman said that the University is in the process of drafting plans for a new athletic center to improve facilities. However, this new center would come at the expense of the Wohl Fitness Center. When facilities are limited, getting rid of existing ones is not a good solution.

Rather, the University should consider adding fitness rooms to new dorms. Though new dorms are being constructed with large multi-purpose rooms, none have thus far been equipped with exercise machines. Adding some exercise machines to dorms could help to remove some of the traffic at the other fitness facilities.

New, aesthetically-pleasing facilities would be an improvement, but they wouldn’t completely solve the problem of insuring that physical fitness is an important part of student life. The University must commit itself to student fitness by making facilities as accessible and convenient to students as possible.

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