Sports Center Committee proposes facility renovation

The newly-formed Sports Center  Committee, comprised of student-athletes as well as non student-athletes, posted a statement to many conferences (including Community) on March 12 announcing the Committee's $11,000 grant application for Sports Center improvements. The message is strong and forward -- the first sentence states, "This past winter has exposed great deficits in the Wellesley College athletic facilities." The Committee comments on the leaking roofs, lines for cardio equipment, and the way in which the current issues put a burden on maintaining a healthy lifestyle at Wellesley.  

The Committee is in the process of getting their ballot initiative confirmed by College Government. If the initiative ends up on the ballot, students' votes can award the Committee $11,000 to acquire new cardio machines. Sports Center Committee member Mara Blesoff explains how the Committee was formed out of a reaction to the Wellesley community's dissatisfaction with current conditions. "[It] was formed to provide a voice and plan of action to the growing frustrations members of the Wellesley Community have with regards to the sports center," she said.

In the released statement, the Committee proposes that "the grant be used for an issue that many would consider the most imminent issue at the sports center for all who use it: the insufficient number of cardio machines." The statement goes on to discuss the cardio machines' importance as the most-used pieces of equipment by the Wellesley community in the sports center. Ultimately, the Committee explains how the developments will improve health and stimulate action for a new sports center in Wellesley's future.

The statement came at the end of a harsh winter that undoubtedly limited students' workouts outdoors, putting even greater pressure on Sports Center dependability. On any given winter weekday, during prime workout hours from 4-6 p.m., lines form in front of the treadmill, bike and elliptical area.

The Committees' sports center renovations do not stop with cardio machines. Blesoff states, "We realize more cardio machines clearly won't solve everything, but it is a good first step in the right direction." Currently, there is heavy competition for space use. Shortage of spaces such as courts, dance studios, the indoor track and the multipurpose gym force teams to compromise practice time , and also, put non-athletes in competition for those high-demand and low supply spaces.

Blesoff discusses the space dilemma's consequences by stating, "Thus, people wishing to exercise must often settle for waiting, or not being able to exercise in the way they want at all.  The lack of space affects all those who use the sports center." She goes on to highlight the sacrifices Wellesley College's Varsity Athletics must make: "Additionally, certain athletic teams do not even have sufficient facilities. The basketball team has a portable court that is only set up during season; in the off-season, they must practice on a court that is below the regulation size. […] The squash team does not have regulation courts either, forcing them to be unable to even compete at Wellesley.  They play all their ‘home' matches at Dana Hall."

Concerns about how the facility measures up to other institutions stems not only from the current negative reflection on the College but also to the Center's potential deterrence of prospective students and the effects on the College's future. The Committee's released statement affirms that, "Our sports center currently does not only clearly lack in comparison to other competitive colleges, it fails to show future students that, indeed, Wellesley does foster an environment for active, all around, excellent women."

Regarding the facility's current and future implications, Blesoff states that, "If Wellesley wants to be a school that excels in all aspects of college life, then it should immediately try to stop doing itself a disservice in the area of sports and recreation.  For many prospective students, places to exercise and compete do factor in to making the decision of where to go to school. Additionally, the College has health and wellness goals that could be benefitted by a better sports center."

On behalf of the Committee, Blesoff states, "We have faith in college officials that when students identify a community concern […], they will respond to the best of their ability." The Committee anticipates the confirmation of the Sports Center initiative on the College Government ballot and enough votes to grant the Committee $11,000 in order to purchase new cardio machines.