The Half Acre building is one of the main attractions on campus that promotes health and wellness for students, faculty and staff, but even with up-to-date equipment and programs, students still have small complaints.
Campus Recreation offers students and other members many programs, including Aquatics, Club Sports, Fitness, Intramural Sports, the Outdoor Program and the Wellness Center. The new building was completed in 2015.
“The new state-of-the art facility provides an array of activities, programs, equipment and opportunities for the campus community to get involved in,” Campus Recreation Assistant Director Sarah Luke said. “We provide a place not only for people to work out, but to de-stress, meet new people, try new activities and become a part of the community.”
Freshman Joey Madsen’s only complaint is Half Acre not having a space for people to do Olympic-style weightlifting which includes moves such as snatch, clean and jerk. Senior Jon Cummings’ complaint is that weekend hours are cut short for those looking to work out later on Saturday evenings or Sunday morning when the building is closed. Otherwise, the two enjoy Half Acre and appreciate the individuals who help keep it running.
“I enjoy Half Acre, it’s a nice service for the students and offers a lot of variety to suit nearly everyone’s needs,” Madsen said.
With mostly positive comments about Half Acre, a general statement lies between Cummings and Madsen. They both expressed reasons why Half Acre would not be the first choice if there were other options for their different needs.
Cummings chooses to exercise at Half Acre because it’s free for students but said he would go elsewhere if there was a cheaper option, even if it meant a longer drive. Madsen just enjoys how close it is to where he is currently residing.
“I think I would continue to work out at Half Acre just because of its proximity to the dorms,” Madsen said. “However, if I didn’t live in the dorms, I doubt I’d work out there.”
Nearly 2,000 patrons per day swipe in on any given weekday during the semester. Numbers are also up for daily users and program participation, said Luke, but some students still choose to not work out at Half Acre.
Junior Bailey Forney is one of the students that chooses to work out elsewhere. She exercises at Planet Fitness instead to accommodate her schedule and to avoid the hordes of gym-goers during Half Acre’s peak hours.
“I like being able to get in and get it done rather than having to possibly wait in line for a bench machine,” Forney said.
On top of there being less people working out, she takes advantage of Planet Fitness’ tanning beds, massage chairs and the fact that it is open 24/7. However, Forney doesn’t dislike working out at Half Acre, Planet Fitness just happens to be more convenient for her when it comes to hours and location.
Even competing with other facilities around town, Half Acre continues to be more than a place for people to workout on equipment. There are gyms for specific athletic events, a wellness center to learn about and manage mental health, a hot tub, a rock-climbing wall and many other attractions.
“We pride ourselves in offering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all patrons and guests,” Luke said. “We have been able to improve and expand upon our offerings in many ways and will continue to explore opportunities for new programs and services.”
