New weights at Rockne bring old gym into new century
MEG DADAY
News Writer
It is a long, cold walk to the RecSports Center from the dorms on South Quad.
Until recently, students living in these dorms had few options when it came to exercising: face the weather and the lines for machines, but use state-of-the-art equipment, or go to the Rockne Memorial and use ancient machinery.
Inconvenience and out-of-date machinery are no longer valid excuses. The Rockne Memorial now has the latest weight lifting equipment in the upstairs weight room and the downstairs exercise room, which also features new cardiovascular machines and three television sets.
"I always wanted the Rock to be better," said Caroline Craft, a junior and resident of Pangborn Hall. Craft, who used to work out at Rolfs, now goes to the Rock consistently "because it's so convenient and now they have good machines."
Kristin Wunder, also a junior, agreed.
"I think it's really nice," she said. "Especially in the winter, because now we don't have to go all the way to Rolfs just to use nice stuff."
That nice stuff was paid for with some of the University's general funds.
"The University set up a renewal fund to raise money for various projects and part of that money was allocated to pay for the renovations of the Rock, said Brother Louis Hurcik, facilities manager of the building. Hurcik said that although suggestions had been made for improvements for a number of years, a major impetus for action was a vote by the Student Senate last spring to upgrade the facility.
The changes did not come until last semester. Over fall break, new cardiovascular machines, weight lifting equipment, and television sets were put into the lower weight room.
Since the improvements were made, use of this room has increased 25 percent.
During the Christmas break, the upper weight room received new equipment and new lighting, the racquetball courts were renovated, and the gym floor was sanded. According to Hurcik, a few machines are due to arrive this week; however, the upper weight room is open.
Hurcik estimates that most of the old equipment was purchased in the 1970s and 80s.
"It's an earlier generation of Nautilus that was sturdy and able to be kept up," he said. "We never had any problems."
Because the equipment is still useable and in good condition despite its age, it was dispersed to various dorms.
"It was a great experience to bring the old equipment to other places and bring the new equipment in," Jennifer Phillips, assistant fitness director, said.
According to Phillips, the biggest difference between the older strength machines and the newer ones is the fact that the older versions were not designed to accommodate people of different sizes.
With the new, state-of-the-art equipment, however, she said, "Anyone from 4'11" to 7' can get a proper workout on most of the equipment."
The Rock also features more specialized pieces than it previously did. These include a dead-lift platform, a total chest machine and a total shoulder machine. It is possible to complete a full circuit using the machines in the upper weight room and on the balcony; this means that if someone uses every machine, the person will get a complete workout.
Although they like the new equipment, two Carroll freshmen said they also miss the old weight room. Tim Butz said,
"I miss the dungeon aspect of the old weight room," he said. "It made me feel hard-core."
"It had kind of a Rocky feel," Dustin Beauchamp added.
All News Stories for Monday, January 22, 2001
