With Bowling Alley Gone, Gym Introduces Expanded Quarters

Photo credit: Sean Tomizawa

The gym at Purchase College opened its doors to a newly renovated fitness room at the start of the spring 2010 semester. Over $130,000 was spent in construction, $80,000 of which was used to purchase equipment.

Veronica Slattery, a junior and member of the women's soccer team, said she was pleased with the new environment. “I didn’t think our fitness center was big enough. It was bunched together and crowded. But now there are more sections, and it's much more accommodating.”

Located on the basement level of the building on the north side of campus, the expansion to the gym now serves as the cardio-room. Gym-goers have 17 new pieces of machinery to choose from. Additionally, the weight-lifting equipment and other exercise machines expand over two rooms, providing students with more space and greater accessibility.

“I think it looks phenomenal,” said Jessica DiFoggio, a junior in psychology and a member of the women's soccer team. “But I was really bored because I kept staring at the wall. I think there should be murals and inspirational quotes on the walls. We could also use more lockers and stretching mats.”

According to Athletic Director Ernie Palmieri, renovations on the area will continue for the next year and a half. He also said that there will be no more new equipment until next year, and that empty spaces in the fitness room will be filled with extra benches and free weights.

Another fan of the changes was Julia Pelkofsky, a junior. “The fact that there is more space makes it more comfortable and more inviting. It was annoying when I'd go and have to wait for a certain machine. Now there's more access, but the lack of TV viewing is still a little annoying. ”

According to Palmieri, the funds for the new gym were provided by budgets from rental revenue, a loan from the college, and the mandatory athletic fee, which charges full-time students $129.70 per semester. He said that despite the current progress, there is still more work to be done.

The expansion of the fitness center resulted in the sacrifice of the gym's treasured bowling alley, which was sold on eBay last semester by the college. But despite the loss, the room has become more intriguing to be a part of in comparison to its unused space of the past.

“This is only phase one,” said Palmieri. “We plan to add more air conditioning and to open up more walls.”

He said that these installations, along with new televisions for the cardio-room, will be added by the fall 2010 semester. Students can use the fitness center from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.