By Laura Tomah, Contributing writer
In high school, I am sure most people were very active and got the exercise that is much needed both mentally and physically. It’s easy to maintain a high activity level when it fits so neatly into your schedule.
I was just as excited as anyone else when coming to college and I believed that I wouldn’t become one of the freshmen to face the nightmare of the freshman 15.
However, I soon realized that the college I selected had turned working out into its own little nightmare.
I soon went on an adventure to work out in the facility in the Student Union, only to realize this wasn’t a place to get exercise, but rather a place to entertain and amuse other students with what I guess some would consider weak attempts to exercise.
The glass exposure allowing other students to watch those who exercise is disrespectful to the privacy of the students working out, and frequently leads to discouraging students from actually using the facility.
I personally have not used the gym since having some unpleasant experiences attributed to other students’ judgment of me and have chosen to go to other places off campus to work out as a result.
So, I would like to know why I am still paying for something that I know I do not want to use.
If I feel this loathing for the Student Union gym, then other students probably feel the same way.
Shelby Funderburk said, “I personally refuse to use it. Other students sit there and watch you while you are trying to work out. I want to know what genius thought of making the glass wall.”
Funderburk also stated, “The equipment could definitely use a better variety or at least more space to work out.”
Tabby Lee also said she felt the same. “I started paying to go to a different gym because of the privacy at one point.”
Lee went on to say, “There’s not enough equipment and I stopped going because I was exposed; they need to make a new one with a new pool and have it in the same area. I think that they charge us enough with BS that they could easily create or remodel a new one. I just felt uncomfortable (in the current facility).”
If the administration wants students to use the new Student Union then they need to meet our needs. After all, if we aren’t here then the student union isn’t here. Why hasn’t a failure in design been properly fixed?
I personally don’t think some blinds would put the school out an arm and a leg, and they would go a long way toward making students comfortable using equipment that has already been purchased.