New Gym Needs Tweaks

Students, faculty and staff at MSU have waited five long years for the new Student Wellness Center to open — and for some students, that’s been their entire college career. After the roof of the Marga Hosaeus Fitness Center collapsed in the winter of 2019, expectations were high for this long-anticipated, new-and-improved recreation center. Finally, on Aug. 19, an opening ceremony was held for the new SWC, revealing a grand building with tons of campus resources and offices inside.

However, while the SWC and its in-house campus affiliates boast impressive access to resources and recreation, some students have been left frustrated by the gym aspect of the new building — specifically, the lack of space and weightlifting equipment.

“I’ve heard a lot of comments from many students,” said SWC Facility Supervisor Dreyden Lucero when the Exponent asked him whether he’d heard any complaints.

In the fall of 2024, MSU reached a record-breaking enrollment of over 17,000 students, according to the Registrar’s 2024 Enrollment Report. Yet, the new SWC currently has only four bench presses available. That is a ratio of 4,250 students to each bench press.

Senior Georgia Sprague, a self-proclaimed casual lifter and avid climber, shared her thoughts on the new SWC. She thought new features such as the track and rock climbing wall were great. “I think all the new additions are awesome and I'm glad we have those,” she said. “But at the same time, I feel like a lot of the space in the gym for, like, weightlifting and deadlifting, there's not a lot of space to do different workouts, so it's just kind of an awkward environment.”

For many, fitness is an essential part of campus life. It provides students with physical benefits and critical outlets for stress relief. According to the National Education Association, mental health challenges are on the rise among college students. Because of this, access to adequate recreational spaces is more critical than ever. For many students, weightlifting is more than just a hobby — it’s part of their strategy to manage stress and stay healthy. A crowded or awkward space can discourage students from participating, reducing the positive impact the SWC intends to have.

Other students echoed similar frustrations. “I think the gym is lacking in equipment,” said junior environmental design student Tommy Meissner. When asked what equipment he hoped for as additions in the future, Meissner replied: “A bigger dumbbell area, more benches and more attachments for the cable machines.”

In addition to the limited amount of bench presses available to students, there are only seven squat racks at the new gym — and there are no designated areas for deadlifts except for the floor directly behind the squat racks. As someone who lifts, I find it uncomfortable when others are working out directly behind me. The lack of dedicated deadlift stations also forces lifters to improvise, creating congestion behind the squat racks and possible safety concerns.

“There’s no lifting platforms, so if you actually want to lift heavy, there’s no way to do it,” kinesiology student Chloe Hirst said.

Sprague agreed. “It seems like there is so much space, yet very little space at the same time. You seriously don’t want an awkward environment at the gym. It's already a vulnerable enough experience. I’m pretty sure the [North] Dome had more equipment and space to lift weights,” she said.

The gym can feel chaotic during peak hours as students crowd around the limited lifting equipment. It’s common to see students hovering near a machine or bench space, waiting their turn or asking others how many sets they have left.

“It sucks. It’s hard to work out at that gym with the entire student body there,” anthropology student Gus Frickey said.

English student Apryl Little said it’s usually “crazy busy" inside the SWC and it can be hard to get a machine. “I do think it’s weird that it’s such a big gym with so little equipment.”

As our campus adjusts to the benefits and drawbacks of the new SWC, it’s essential to recognize all the new advantages offered — the Bike and Ski Shop, a three-story climbing wall, a multipurpose activity court and a recreational water facility, complete with ADA accessibility. Essential services — like the Bounty of the Bridgers Food Pantry, as well as nutrition, medical, counseling and dental services — are all conveniently located under one roof, making the center a true hub of wellness for MSU’s campus.

According to Director of Campus Recreation Spencer Sorenson, the center's design was challenging. “There’s not a lot of people that have built this type of facility in the country. Projects of this size and scale are typically budget-based. We designed and filled the space as much as the budget would currently allow,” he said.

“The goal for us in this design was to try to have a little bit of everything for everyone, and that can be tough to do,” Sorenson said. “We tried to listen to students and groups as much as possible and will continue to do that.”

Additionally, Sorenson said that Campus Recreation has been working alongside students and taking their feedback seriously. Because of this, specific changes have already been implemented this semester. “We are actively listening to all forms of feedback,” he said. “We're also doing hourly headcounts to see usage patterns. And we've already used some of that data to move machines around.”

Hopefully, students frustrated by the current limitations can expect some relief soon. Sorenson mentioned that additional equipment is coming, including items back-ordered or still in the shipping process. This raises hopes that the weightlifting area will become more functional soon. However, students still wonder if new equipment alone will solve the overcrowding problem.

While MSU’s new Student Wellness Center is making strides to provide exciting new opportunities for activities such as rock climbing, swimming and bike or ski maintenance, it currently falls short for students who rely on weightlifting as part of their fitness routine.

As the student population grows, I hope Campus Recreation will continue to adapt and ensure that the space can meet student demand. After all, the SWC should be just that — a place where everyone, lifter or climber, can comfortably thrive.