New policies at Fitness Center implemented

After a one-week informational period that took place the first week of the fall semester the Norwich University Fitness Center has implemented new policies on Jan. 25, according to the head strength and conditioning coach at the fitness center.

There is just one entrance to the fitness center now; it is located in the southwest stairwell in Plumley Armory. Users must bring their student IDs or membership cards along with a separate pair of clean shoes to be admitted into the fitness center.

"We did an informational one week (trial) during the first week of school letting everyone know what the new policies would be," said Jeff Kruger, head strength and conditioning coach, "(the new policies) actually just started this past Monday."

The goal is to keep the area cleaner by limiting the foot traffic, Kruger said.

Keeping the equipment clean reduces the amount of money spent on replacing and repairing the machines, Kruger said. When sand and water got into the machines they would break down more easily.

The more time and money that needs to be spent repairing equipment prevents the students from full use of the facility.

Some students see the new policies as a burden.

"I hate the new policies, I live off campus so I usually park in the parking lot and then enter through the back door (ROTC door) and now I can't use that. I don't like having to sign in and only have one entrance and one exit," said Emily Tetreault, a 21-year-old junior nursing major from Lisbon, N.H. "It has decreased workout space and has made the gym more crowded because people cannot use the small room located next to the other staircase and they cannot use the hallway down in the ROTC area of the building."

Not only is the fitness center open to students, faculty and staff of Norwich University but it is open for families of faculty and staff and the public of Northfield for a fee of $35 a month or $400 dollars for a year. Alumni pay $200 for a year membership for them and their family.

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"I don't think allowing the public to use the fitness center is a bad thing as long as they are paying a fee, I think it should be more than $35 but if the world is trying to promote people to be healthy then there is really no other place for them to go," Hood said

"I have obligations to my homework and having to wait to use the equipment is very frustrating. I wouldn't have an issue if there were enough machines; especially treadmills," Tetreault said.

Although the fitness center is making good strides to make everyone's workout experience better, students think there still are a few things the fitness center could improve on.

"I would have more functioning treadmills. There are only six treadmills in the cardio room and usually at least two are not functioning. There need to be more," Tetreault said.

"I would unlock the double doors that lead from the naval and marine offices to the fitness center because it's hard for females to get to the gym because we have to go all the way around instead of just going through the hall," Hood said.

Kruger is happy with the new policies. "I would say its successful overall; like anything else change is always difficult for the first time, but I think after the first week things will be good," Kruger said.

"I don't like the new policies at all, I don't think they have really changed anything other than make it more inconvenient for us to use the gym," said Alicia Hood, 27, a senior communications major from Simi Valley, Calif.

"It is frustrating to have to wait to use treadmills when I am the one paying tuition to attend the school. It might be less frustrating if the town's people were not on the treadmills for 20 to 30 minutes when they are only walking," Tetreault said.