The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers

The small size of UConn's fitness center is a fact so widely acknowledged and complained about that it has become as notorious as spring weekend. However, this might change soon. Today at 5:30 p.m. in the Bishop Center a group of students and faculty members will be on hand to discuss the scope of the project.

According to Patti Bostic, the executive director of Recreational Services, the finished product will be a large recreation center with lighted fields.

"Fitness centers will be included in the recreation center," she said. "The center is to house all of our current programs: intramurals, informal, alternative outdoor, student development and hopefully some new ones, like aquatics, fitness and wellness, special events, extramural, instructional programs and experiential learning."

"[The fitness center] is too crowded, there aren't enough equipment or benches," said Frank Souza, a 4th-semester economics major who supports building a new facility. "I really want hammer strength machines."

"The equipment is nice and everything, but its way too small for 10,000 kids," he said. "It's too mainstream, people who really know lifting can't use everything."

Sven Englund, a 2nd-semester exploratory major agreed.

"They have everything I'm looking for, all the weight equipment I need, I think that if they just updated the size, it would be a lot nicer for the student body," he said.

Bostic said that these are not irregular concerns.

"The current shared facility and field space are simply too small, too worn out, and too inflexible to meet the needs of today's campus community and recreational programming. The lack of available open times, poor condition of locker rooms, overcrowded areas and programs and lack of enough space and equipment are common complaints."

A new center will also help UConn's university standing.

"Research indicates that student involvement in recreational sports programs, facilities and services plays a significant role in recruiting new students, supporting the learning environment, integrating students into the social community of the campus, affiliating them with the institution and enhancing a number of student educational and developmental outcomes," Bostic said. "These outcomes include enhanced recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff; higher grade point averages, greater student satisfaction with their overall college experience and many other physical and intellectual benefits that accrue to students through their involvement."

Englund also felt that the center was necessary for the school's benefit.

"We're a top school in New England and I think it's about time we updated the gym, since other schools have," he said. "We definitely need to be able to compete."

Other students have expressed doubts of the need to build a new facility when there are times during the school year when the football facility is not being used. It was a topic addressed by Sam Miller, vice president for Student Affairs at the last "Straight from the Source" meeting. Miller said that the exclusive football facility was needed to keep athletes interested in the school.

"If UConn wants to be competitive nationally, then it's investments like that which get you to the next level," he said.

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