Due to the efforts of Student Union and the Athletic Department, the Athletic Center weight room will see new walls, better ventilation, more sit-up mats, and new pads on the weight machines in the near future. New free weights have already been added.
SU Senators Rishi Belani, sophomore, and Adam Pase, sophomore, undertook the weight room project this fall after hearing complaints from students regarding the current equipment and the facilities in general.
“Many students felt the facilities on campus were not up to par,” Pase said. “Lots of students were going off campus to meet their fitness needs, but hopefully the improvements will help eliminate this issue.”
Belani and Pase first set up a suggestion box in the weight room to garner student opinions on the facilities and equipment before approaching the Athletic Department with their ideas. From suggestions placed in the box, the two senators compiled a list of the most common complaints. These included updating machines, enhancing the sound system, and improving the air quality.
The size of the weight room itself will not change, as replacement and improvement are the key goals of the project instead of a complete overhaul of the facility. Many of the changes, such as working to improve the ventilation system, cannot begin until traffic in the weight room decreases.
Director of Athletics John Schael noted that the department very recently received approval for the ventilation project, which should begin this summer.
According to Schael, eight mirrors have been bought for the walls and should be installed this spring. In addition, a sound technician will consider the feasibility of setting up a sound system for the room.
Freshman Ryan Allerman uses the weight room regularly, and felt that improvements were needed in regard to lighting and equipment.
“It seems like a dungeon down there,” Allerman said. “Hopefully the atmosphere itself can be improved.”
As a Division III school, Washington University’s weight-training facilities are available to all WU students and staff. Schael noted that because of this all students benefit from the changes, not just WU athletes.
“Our facilities are comparable to those of other Division III schools,” Schael said. “Still, we’re always looking to modernize our equipment within our budget, but we don’t want to duplicate items.”
According to the two senators, athletic department officials, specifically Schael, had not heard of many of these problems and complaints regarding the weight room since the last upgrades were made around six years ago. Nevertheless, they found the athletic department willing to work with them and listen to student feedback. Schael took all suggestions under advisement, and they are part of the department’s agenda.
“The Athletic Department seemed excited to work with us,” Belani said. “The process was much easier than I had expected.”
Belani and Pase focused their efforts on the Athletic Center weight room instead of the South 40 Fitness Center, since the Athletic Complex is the more established location for weight training. Also, most of the complaints the senators received concerned the facilities at the AC.
Pase also noted that the equipment at the South 40 Fitness Center is newer and more focused on a cardiovascular workout.

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