Students, faculty and staff who like to work up a sweat early in the morning or late at night will welcome a change in Intramural Building, Central Campus Recreation Building and North Campus Recreation Building hours.
- Paul Wong
- LSA senior Dave Byun spots Prof. Ian Mackenzie while lifting weights at the Central Campus Recreation Building yesterday.<br><br>BRENDAN O”DONNELL/Daily
In response to years of requests, the three recreation buildings will open at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday starting this fall. Each building will close at 11 p.m. The facilities currently open at 7 a.m. during the week and close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
“Over the years we have had requests from two groups. Students want us to keep buildings open later in the evenings. Staff and faculty prefer that we open the facilities earlier in the morning so they can exercise before going to work,” said Jan Wells, associate director of Recreational Sports.
After a long day of classes and evening homework, students often prefer to exercise later at night, Wells said.
“I know people keep weird hours in college, so the change in building hours will be especially convenient for students,” said Emily Barnett, a Public Health graduate student.
“In response to users” suggestions, we have been phasing in longer hours by keeping the buildings open until 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings,” said Dick Pitcher, NCRB Building Director.
Michigan Student Assembly President Matt Nolan, a member of the Advisory Committee for Recreational Sports said the request for extended hours was approved last week.
“After speaking with students, we noticed that they just don”t work on a nine-to-five schedule. Attendance studies taken at the buildings show that it will be beneficial to keep them open longer,” said Jessica Cash, a committee member and MSA vice president.
New equipment was added to the IM Building after spring break this year and a building-to-building equipment overhaul is gradually occurring, Cash added.
Mandeep Grewal, an LSA sophomore, said regardless of the longer hours, she still prefers to work out during the day.
“Last year I would go to the CCRB in the evening, but it was just too crowded. During the day, it”s less crowded and I prefer working out during the day anyway. You can use more equipment,” Grewal said.
Despite the free facilities on campus, some students choose to pay for their gym services elsewhere.
“Students come to us because they want to use our state-of-the-art equipment and they don”t have to worry about campus parking,” said Janelle Coolich, manager of the Bally Total Fitness near Briarwood Mall.