ND faculty welcome new fitness facility
By STACEY KAPLAN
News Writer
Irish faculty and administrators are toning muscles in a new facility. The Raymond and Winifred Rinehart Faculty Exercise Facility, located in the Joyce Center, opened its doors in mid-January. Since then it has received an influx of new visitors.
"People have been telling me that they see a lot of new faces. I tell them, `Yeah, you're right.'" said Kevin Hirl, issuing clerk.
The improvement was necessary due to renovations of the men's and women's varsity basketball locker rooms.
"They just wanted to update the basketball locker areas," said Hirl.
Both the faculty locker rooms and the exercise facility itself were expanded and improved. Associate professor David Gasperetti said, "There is more room and better equipment. It's lighter and brighter, and the locker room is a nice upgrade. This is certainly a place that you don't mind coming to at all."
According to Gasperetti, the only negative effect of the facility was the necessity of closing it down for renovations.
"That was the negative thing. I really depended on this place for workouts," he said.
The room also includes a new entertainment system.
"There is a vast difference from the old room. Where they used to have just one TV they have three monitors now. People can even bring their own headphones to hear personally," he said.
Structural improvements to the building have also been popular.
"They have windows now to look out so you can see the stadium. The old room didn't have any windows at all, so it's really nice," said Hirl. Saunas were added to both locker rooms.
The facility is a gift of Raymond Rinehart. He served as chairman and CEO of Clow Corporation until 1980. He is currently chairman and CEO of RGR Enterprises, and has served on the College of Business Advisory Council for almost 30 years. The facility will be dedicated on May 8.
All News Stories for Wednesday, March 29, 2000
