Noyes Fitness Center, the only gym on West Campus, is located in Noyes Community Recreation Center, a short walk away from Baker Flagpole. This year, I have found myself at Noyes more than any other gym on campus. But this is not because Noyes is superior to any of the other fitness centers, or because I think it is particularly great. Instead, I’m at Noyes so often due to its convenience and familiarity; it is the closest to my dormitory and classes, leading me to return faithfully every time I want to work out.
The facility is equipped with a wide enough range of equipment and machine selections that the average gym-goer is able to complete a variety of workouts with no problem. There is a rack of dumbbells ranging from three to 100 pounds, two squat racks and bench presses, a leg press, a hack squat machine, a leg extension machine and a hamstring curl machine, among others. The cardio section is complete with eight treadmills, two rowing machines and a row of ellipticals and stationary bikes. In the middle of the gym, there is a multi-cable station, offering places to perform exercises like lat pulldowns, seated rows and assisted pull-ups and dips. In the corner, there is a small floor area with yoga mats and medicine balls.
In terms of equipment, Noyes checks all the boxes: I am able to find and use all the machines I need for a good training session. But my problem with Noyes lies in the fact that it is just too small for the number of students that go there. Simply entering this gym during peak hours is overwhelming: My vision is instantly bombarded with a jam-packed room of students teeming with activity, making me instantly want to leave. Even finding a cubby to put my belongings in can be challenging. Since it is so crowded and there is only one or two of each machine, there always seems to be a wait, especially for the cables. Nothing is more frustrating than aimlessly wandering around the gym, sneaking glances at the machine I need as I wait for it to become available. Thankfully, most people are nice enough to let me “work in,” where I do my exercise on the machine they are using during their rest period.
These nightmarish conditions are most common between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. or between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.. I try not to work out in Noyes during these times, but sometimes, there is just no avoiding it. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is like the calm before the storm; Noyes empties out slightly for dinnertime before the night crowd swarms in. Weekends tend to be better, but sometimes when it is rainy, the gym is just as packed.
I’ve discovered that the perfect time to go to Noyes is between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Since most people have class during this time, there is never a wait for any machine, and the gym is almost empty. The downside is that I also tend to have class during this time frame. But on the precious days when I don’t, I am able to cheerfully leave my machine unattended while I grab my water bottle, knowing that my machine will not be stolen before I return.
In general, the fitness centers on campus are mediocre and attempt to accommodate more students than they can handle. Noyes is no exception. Considering that it costs $105 per semester or $150 for the year to access the fitness centers, the gyms on campus are dismal. However, Noyes could be significantly improved by expanding the space and adding another cable machine and leg press.
Cornell should take this action, or invest more in their fitness facilities overall. Even though trekking across campus and up Libe Slope is a workout in itself, a considerable portion of students still utilize the gym to stay active, especially when the weather is unpleasant. Cornell tries to prioritize student welfare, as exemplified by their high-quality food options and lack of soda in their dining halls. Improving their fitness centers is one more way to boost Cornellians’ well-being.
Angelina Lei is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at al2733@cornell.edu.
