2008 Woodie Awards
SGA Begins Push for More Gym Space
Tory Glerum
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
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With Colgate's ranking by Men's Fitness magazine as the second most physically fit campus in the nation, it is no wonder that the Student Government Association (SGA) and a group of willing students have begun working to gather administrative support and draft a proposal for a new satellite fitness center on the hill.
After witnessing the lines at the William Brian Little Fitness Center in Huntington Gymnasium and hearing complaints of crowding from other students, SGA President Rob Sobelman and Vice President Jenny Dorland proposed the idea for a new fitness space during their campaign last year. According to Sobelman, the proposal gained support from athletes and non-athletes alike.
"Colgate is a fitness-oriented campus, and building a new facility is crucial in order to meet student need," Sobelman said. "Students should not be discouraged from healthy behavior due to crowding of the workout facility."
Sobelman attributed SGA's late start on the satellite fitness center project this semester to their concentration on the potential changes to Donovan's Pub.
"Working to improve a space that already exists was a more pressing issue," Sobelman said.
However, according to SGA Policy Coordinator for Campus Development and leader of the satellite fitness center project sophomore Safwan Shabab, SGA's efforts are better late than never.
After sending out a campus-wide e-mail alerting students to the project and receiving 15 responses of those interested in helping work out a plan, SGA organized the Satellite Fitness Center Working Group, which had their first meeting this past Sunday under Shabab's direction.
Sobelman said that the group's first step will be to define their mission, and then to collect data through some form of a survey to assess student need. If the need is great, SGA will work on drafting a proposal and gathering administrative support for the project.
Due to the direct link between fitness and issues of physical and mental health, SGA is planning to partner with the Wellness Initiative, a campus-wide commitment to provide education and opportunity for personal wellness, in order to pursue the project. The Athletics Department will also be involved, since, according to Sobelman, a new fitness center would provide training resources for student-athletes.
After witnessing the lines at the William Brian Little Fitness Center in Huntington Gymnasium and hearing complaints of crowding from other students, SGA President Rob Sobelman and Vice President Jenny Dorland proposed the idea for a new fitness space during their campaign last year. According to Sobelman, the proposal gained support from athletes and non-athletes alike.
"Colgate is a fitness-oriented campus, and building a new facility is crucial in order to meet student need," Sobelman said. "Students should not be discouraged from healthy behavior due to crowding of the workout facility."
Sobelman attributed SGA's late start on the satellite fitness center project this semester to their concentration on the potential changes to Donovan's Pub.
"Working to improve a space that already exists was a more pressing issue," Sobelman said.
However, according to SGA Policy Coordinator for Campus Development and leader of the satellite fitness center project sophomore Safwan Shabab, SGA's efforts are better late than never.
After sending out a campus-wide e-mail alerting students to the project and receiving 15 responses of those interested in helping work out a plan, SGA organized the Satellite Fitness Center Working Group, which had their first meeting this past Sunday under Shabab's direction.
Sobelman said that the group's first step will be to define their mission, and then to collect data through some form of a survey to assess student need. If the need is great, SGA will work on drafting a proposal and gathering administrative support for the project.
Due to the direct link between fitness and issues of physical and mental health, SGA is planning to partner with the Wellness Initiative, a campus-wide commitment to provide education and opportunity for personal wellness, in order to pursue the project. The Athletics Department will also be involved, since, according to Sobelman, a new fitness center would provide training resources for student-athletes.
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