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Norwich gets new fitness center

By Richard Macris

On December 14, 2009

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With the construction of its new dormitory, Norwich has not just gained new beds – but more fitness space.

"When the new building was built there was some input from the students and we wanted to see what they [want]," said Jose Sinclair, the assistant director of Resident Life and Orientation. "One of the things that came out was another fitness center and we looked at different options on what we could do and then we decided to go out and build it."

Norwich wanted the new dorm to create some more common space and there was a discussion with students on the variety of things that could be put in that space. A great interest to the students was an exercise facility.

Since South Hall is a distance from Plumley Armory, that made sense, said David Magida, chief administrator of facilities operations.

"We did not want to duplicate Plumley; that was never our intention," said Magida. "It was always cardio and it was never intended to be a replacement for Plumley and it has met that goal."

Students find the location of the South Hall fitness center to be very convenient.

"I definitely think it's convenient for students living in this building because they don't have to walk to Plumley when it's cold outside," said Rebecca Aidala, a 19-year-old mechanical engineering major from Niskayuna, N.Y.

The new fitness center also provides work-study opportunities for students.

"It's easy work and you supervise everybody and its really convenient and its right down stairs," said Jorjuana Orivero, 20, a junior architecture major from Providence, R.I.

The fitness center is only convenient to students who have access to it.

"For me, yes, because I have access to it. What I'm hearing from other people like civilians that don't have access to the building it's not convenient," said Nicole Fabbo, a 20-year-old junior history and political science major from Everett, Mass.

The South Hall fitness center has a large number of cardio machines but it lacks free weights, which bothers some students.

"I have heard from students that wish there were free weights and if they were dumbbells or weights from the rack that are five, tens and twenties," said Aidala.

"Based on the space it is not big enough for us to have a whole rack with dumbbells," explained Sinclair.

Students biggest complaint about the fitness center is the absence of free weights.

South Hall does not have the proper facilities for weight training and does not have someone with qualifications staffing the center.

"You have to have people with the training and you have people take up a lot more floor space with free weights," said Magida. "The people who are working there are not trainers."