Responding to student concerns regarding the state of the weightlifting equipment in the Woodruff P.E. Center, Athletic Director Chuck Gordon is exploring what can be done to improve the facility.
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| Khadi King/Staff |
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Athletic Director Chuck Gordon is addressing student concerns about the state of the WoodPEC weightlifting area. Ideally, Gordon would like to see an expanded space, possibly occupying a portion of the roof.
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"We're aware of the complaints," Gordon said. "We plan to evaluate the budget in August, and it is a possibility that we will replace some of the free weight equipment."
In particular, the Athletic Department would like to augment the nautilus line with new Cybex machines, which would cost more than $50,000. "Fifty thousand is a lot to find at one time," Gordon said. "But we could maybe do half now and half later in the future."
Originally, the weight room was located on the second floor where the track and field coaches' offices are now.
"[The weights have] come a long way from where [they were], but that is not an excuse not to strive to do things better," Gordon said.
Students, though, want immediate changes.
"It's awful," senior Ryan Hamilton said. "The quality and selection are less than what you would find at any average gym in the Atlanta area."
Other gym rats have issues with equipment's availability. "A lot of time when it is busy, it is hard to find any free weights," junior Bob Oakes said.
There are also those who are content with the current equipment. "I think that [the weights area] is fine," senior Charles Coffey said. "It is well maintained and it is never too crowded when I am there."
Senior James Knutson agreed. "Weights serve one purpose - to be heavy," he said. "The weights in the WoodPEC are indeed heavy, so I guess they work just fine."
Even so, as a possible long-term solution to appease the problems some students have with the facility, Gordon foresees the partial enclosure of the WoodPEC roof. The change would, in effect, add another floor to the building.
That new space might house a "new and expanded weight room, in an appropriate space," Gordon said, instead of in "the hallway that leads to nowhere."
With the additional space on the roof, Gordon hopes to add more multipurpose rooms, dance rooms and classrooms. Gordon also would like to build new locker rooms with full-length lockers.
Even if the roof plan comes to fruition, funding for new equipment would remain an issue. The costs for such a project would be high, but it may be the best possible solution.
The roof has drainage problems, which would have to be repaired at a cost between $6 and $12 million, Gordon said.
Much of the weight equipment was co-purchased by both the Fee Interest Committee and the department of athletics and recreation. "We haven't gone back to them, but they could possibly help us to get things together quicker," Gordon said.
Gordon denied rumors that the new space would also be used for a new varsity weight room.
"I don't think that we will ever build an exclusive varsity weight room," Gordon said. "It is not in keeping with the philosophy of Division III athletics."
"The room is a great idea, but it is severely limited by its size," said sophomore Gus Davis, a varsity cross country and track runner.
Gordon pointed out that the current "varsity weight room" is also used for physical education classes. Despite recent renovations to the room, many varsity athletes see the need for improvement.
"It is kind of an embarrassment," said junior Adam Van Arsdale, also a varsity swimmer. "It is basically in a closet, and the equipment is very subpar. My high school had a better weight room."
