The weight room has new access and shoe policies implemented to keep the gym clean and well maintained, according to Norwich’s head strength and conditioning trainer.
“The access policy was implemented second semester of last year. [Students] come down the single entrance and sign in and since we don’t have a card swipe machine we have people sign in so we have a record of who comes in at what time,” said Jeff Kruger, head strength and conditioning coach.
Kruger also mentioned that there is a locked door at the gym. “There are two doors that they are trying to close off and only have one door open, this is so that we can actually monitor who comes in and out.”
Tara Stevenson, 20, a junior biology major from Watertown, Conn., said, “I like the idea of having to sign in and show ID cards because it really is not that much of a hassle to the students and it is for their safety.”
Garrett Bentley, 21 a Criminal Justice major from Sacramento Cali., said, “Having this policy is not a terrible inconvenience. Bringing a second pair of shoes makes sense once the snow hits the ground and having an ID card is no different then a gym back home.”
The new policy of bringing down extra shoes and signing in was to make the gym stay cleaner and look better for students to enjoy and use.
“This was never a factor until last year when Norwich had the biggest rook class” come in and the gym started to need a lot of cleaning, according to Kruger.
According to Kruger, the more everyone keeps the gym clean, the “more enjoyable it will be.” Students are the main people who use the gym, so if students adhere to the gym’s policy the gym will stay that much nicer, he said.
The gym operates with about 35 work-study students. With all of these students working there, the gym is able to be well kept and monitored, according to work study students and gym work study students. Many of the work study students are athletes or people who lift. Work study may include cleaning the gym, spraying down equipment or making sure people sign in and out.
According to Kruger, during the school year, “Students work in the gym and do whatever is needed, from working with sports teams to cleaning up the gym and making it more enjoyable to use.”
Some students would like to see further improvements.
Giovanni Valldejuli, 20, a junior engineering management major from Austin, Texas, said, “As an avid lifter, it would be useful to get a bigger gym or separate gym in order to have sports teams and free lift.” The gym is just over crowded, and there is not enough space to lift, he said.