Campbell Wellness Center receives new equipment

By Grant Merritt
Assistant News Editor
Oct 29, 2009

The Mac and Sylvia Campbell Wellness Center, otherwise known as the fitness center, received new workout equipment for the fall 2009 semester. Three new ellipticals were installed on Oct. 21 and four wide screen televisions are to be installed in the near future.

“We want to make sure we have top of the line equipment for the students,” said Chair of the Physical Education Department Dr. Tommy Thompson. “If we put a piece of junk in there, it wouldn't last five minutes.”

According to Director of Business Services Denise Carroll, the ellipticals and televisions were purchased last April under the 2008/2009 budget using state appropriated funds.

“The ellipticals cost $2,800 each, and two of the televisions were $1,599 each. The other two were $999,” Carroll said.

“The ellipticals cost $2,800 each, and two of the televisions were $1,599 each. The other two were $999,” Carroll said.“The ellipticals cost $2,800 each, and two of the televisions were $1,599 each. The other two were $999,” Carroll said.

The $1,599 televisions are 50-inch wide screens and will be placed in front of the treadmills. The $999 televisions are 30- inch wide screens and will be placed in front of the ellipticals.

The three new ellipticals were placed on the far end of the gym facing the Business Administration Building, and other rearrangements were made to accommodate the new equipment.

“I love the new ellipticals,” said North Hall Resident Administrator Amanda Faulk. “I was afraid before that someone was always going to be on the nice elliptical, and I would have to wait. Now there are five, and I won't have to wait at all. Makes working out so much more convenient in my opinion.”

“Sometimes, I get in a rush and forget my iPod. So having a TV there will be great,” Faulk said. “Having something there to focus on makes the time go by faster.”

On the other hand, not all gym users agree that the televisions are beneficial.

“I am opposed to televisions in the fitness center for two reasons,” said Department of Mass Communication Chair Dr. Jamie Litty.

“I don't want to have to compete with loud volumes from the televisions and my iPod. I already have to crank up the volume to compete with the music over the loud speakers. The televisions should be muted with closed captions,” Dr. Litty said.

“And two, what kind of shows will be allowed? I don't want to be subjected to watching sexist music videos with women in bikinis while I workout,” Dr. Litty said.

“The televisions cannot show the HBO channel. According to law, adult channels are not allowed to be shown in public places,” Carroll said.

Over the summer, two bench press benches were installed along with one a b d u c t o r / a d d u c t o r machine. The bench press works the pectoral muscles, and the a b d u c t o r / a d d u c t o r machine works the inner and outer thigh muscles.

The Campbell Wellness Center's hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.