Despite top-notch campus facilities, some students still opt for private gyms

The popularity of on-campus athletic facilities such as Cousens Gym and the Gantcher Center might be driving some to off-campus offerings. Citing issues of less crowding and more convenience, some students are patronizing local commercial gyms.

"Because I live off campus, it would take more time for me to walk to and from Cousens then to drive to and from the gym," sophomore Sarah Samuelson said. "I didn't go to an independent gym last year, but now that I have a car, it's just easier."

In addition to increased convenience, students also choose to attend off-campus gyms because of the crowding and lack of space in Cousens. According to Fitness Center attendant Mike Pimentel, close to or exceeding 1000 people a day attend Cousens.

"[At the commercial gym], I never have to wait in line," sophomore Mona Green said. "To get a good workout, I need to feel motivated, which I can't on a machine for an hour with people constantly harassing me to get off."

Tufts facilities staffers admit that the lack of space in Cousens Gym can make working out difficult.

"The biggest drawback [to the Tufts facilities] is that everyone in college is on the same timetable, so at certain times it gets crowded," Assistant Athletics Director John Casey said. "At commercial gyms, it gets crowded too, but there, people are on a multitude of different schedules."

Pimentel agreed: "Students are happy with equipment overall," he said. "What we have here you'd find in any commercial gym. They're less happy with the amount of space - it does tend to get crowded in there."

Space constraints aside, Tufts' athletic facilities offer up-to-date machines, well-trained support staffers, and services that many students are unaware of. "Among our peer institutions, we have one of the best athletic facilities," Pimentel said.

"We're pretty up there, absolutely," Casey concurred. "We have the latest equipment; plus, we have a lot of people there that are very helpful."

Tufts' athletic facilities also compare favorably to those of many independent gyms: "Very few commercial gyms offer a pool, two indoor tracks, [and] indoor tennis and basketball courts," Pimentel said.

The equipment available at Tufts also rivals that at commercial gyms. "Over the last few years, we've made a concerted effort to bring in newer equipment," Pimentel said. "We've purchased new elliptical trainers that everyone's really enthusiastic about. There's also an additional one and a stairmaster in Gantcher. [We've also purchased] a circuit of Cybex machines, new Arc trainers, and four new recumbent bikes. We're always looking to upgrade, but the overall square footage makes those things hard."

Though many students don't know it, Tufts' athletic facilities offer many of the same "luxuries" - such as saunas and personal trainers -- as commercial gyms.

"We participate heavily in the Tufts Longitudinal Health Study," Pimentel said. "We also have a Performance Program that we started last year, with a staff of university-trained personal trainers. It's a really integrated program - a lot of cross-referencing with Health Services and the Nutrition School."

Pimentel described the Performance Program, which is subsidized by the University health plan: "Students get five free visits with a personal trainer. The first two are interviews, and the next three are one-one-one sessions," Pimental said. "It's a program that's really pretty unique to Tufts."

Tufts' facilities staffers are also willing to accommodate requests made by students: "If students want to work out in small groups with friends, we can accommodate that," Pimentel said.

Paying every month for a gym membership when such equipment and programs are free on Tufts' campus strikes some students as unnecessary.

"I think it's ridiculous to go to a gym off campus," sophomore Nila Mitra said. "It's such a waste of money because you not only have to pay for the membership, but for the transportation to and from, even if it is just gas."

Sophmore Anjuli Singh agreed with Mitra. "I go to Cousens every other day," Singh said. "I mean, granted, it isn't the easiest place on campus to get to, but once you're there, it's fine. There might be a little bit of a wait for a machine, but honestly, it gets the job done."

Other students, however, still prefer to make the trek (and fork over the cash) to commercial gyms, which offer such perks as on-call masseuses and whirlpools.

"The gym I belong to has much nicer equipment," Green said. Along with several friends, Green - who has a car on campus - has a membership at Healthworks Fitness Center in Porter Square.

Sophomore Livia Stefanini is also a Healthworks member. "Last year, I never got anything done when I worked out in Cousens," Stefanini said. "I like to alternate classes, and at Healthworks, all of the classes are included in the monthly membership fee."

For some, the idea of spending close to $60 a month to go to a commercial gym just isn't worth it, especially when there are free facilities right on campus. For those students, Cousens Gym and the Gantcher Center are more than adequate. To those students belonging to off-campus commercial gyms, however, the membership price is worth it.

"I go to the gym five times a week, and devote about two hours each day for my work out," Samuelson said. "Because I spend so much time there, it's worth the price."

Patrice Taddonio contributed to this report.