By J.D. Eddy, Editorial Editor
Wellness is the basis on what a lot of college kids look at themselves.
Obviously, becoming physically fit does not apply only to college kids. This is mostly the case for the J.R. Holder Wellness Center. It is the only place to work out on campus for free.
The Wellness Center has seen an uptick in new individuals who want to be physically fit. That’s a good thing, and our Wellness Center needs new equipment to accommodate them.
Students would like to see several updates to the Wellness Center. I would like to see the Wellness Center get more lifting equipment, including squat racks, plates and cable machines.
Deshawn Frazier, a senior at Northwestern, wanted to share his thoughts on the Wellness Center: “It should be 24/7, because most college students have jobs to where they can’t make it to the gym before 9 on weekdays, and what they should do instead of putting money into more treadmills is to get some more equipment for the lifters.”
While I disagree that the Wellness Center should be open 24/7, I concur that it does need new equipment. Most college students do have jobs and cannot make it until about 9 p.m., but you are not going to find many college students who want to stay up all night while others are lifting.
Chris Ortiz, another senior, puts it best: “The Welly has always been a part of my college life, and as someone who goes daily, it could use a little upgrade. Many students on campus think the same thing.”
Buying new equipment for the Wellness Center is especially important because more students are using the facility.
Bailie Gooch, assistant director of the Wellness Center, said more students come in after the start of the New Year.
“I find this time to be inspiring and motivating,” Gooch said. “It makes me excited to see the students, employees and community members who are choosing to dedicate time for themselves and improving their health and wellness.”
I enjoy seeing all of the new faces that are showing up at the Wellness Center. It adds a sense that the gym is louder, which makes it easier for me to work out. This is probably because of my years of playing football. I need music and noise in the atmosphere.
I hope that this does not change from January to February. Seeing everyone in the Wellness Center becoming the best versions of themselves always makes me happy.
Even though there’s not enough equipment in the Wellness Center, students are able to improvise. But the proper equipment would greatly enhance the facility.
Outdated equipment makes people feel unsafe, and newer equipment would help students feel more confident. Though I’ve never heard of accidents there, we should always err on the side of caution.
“It’s important to have all equipment up to date and safe for use,” Ortiz said.
I’m not trying to say only bad things about the Wellness Center. It has plenty of positive features. It has more than enough cardio equipment for people who are trying to improve their endurance. Even for the average lifter, cardio is one of the most important things. It helps to improve overall health and wellness, and it releases endorphins.
The Wellness Center reminds me of a gym back in my hometown of Tuttle. It had some good equipment, but it also lacked machines. The thing that kept me there was the people. This is what keeps people going to a gym. The gym eventually did get all the equipment it needed, and its revenue increased dramatically.
The Wellness Center has acquired some new preset dumbbells. However, there is always room for improvement when it comes to workout equipment.
Seeing this place develop into what it needs to be would make students happy. I believe other students feel the same way.