The gym can be an intimidating place for even the most devoted athletes. Weight rooms, especially, can be perceived as testosterone-packed muscle associations that are inaccessible to the casual gym user. Consequently, the recent proposal by the Recreational Sports Board of Directors, to establish women’s only hours in certain weight rooms at the Carmichael Complex for fall 2008 may hold some merit, but it is important that officials first evaluate the desires of the student body before they make these changes.

If the campus community is in support of this idea, then it can be set into place right away. But at this point, there is no organized initiative among the student body to establish these women-only hours at the gym. All students pay the same amount in fees for these facilities, so unless there is a perceivable demand, no special accommodations should be made. Carmichael officials need to gather some comprehensive statistics from gym patrons regarding this issue.

It would be a different issue if the weight rooms simply weren’t accessible to less die-hard patrons due to overcrowding. With the new Carmichael Recreation Center however, this hasn’t been an issue — there has been more than enough room for everyone. Ultimately, the question is whether everyone finds the available facilities attractive and inviting. If some individuals feel subjugated by the atmosphere in the facility, then making a change is perfectly reasonable.

Officials need to also consider that hours for the gym were already reduced for patrons last semester. The merit of further restricting the facilities needs to be weighed against the demand for this change. It is unlikely that we will see the gym’s hours extended to its original time in the near future, so this proposed further limitation for some gym patrons needs to answer a clear demand.

This is an issue that cannot be discounted. Both men and women have undoubtedly felt uncomfortable in certain areas of the gym, specifically in the weight room. Next year, officials are considering a plan that will rearrange certain weight room facilities in the Carmichael Complex, establishing both light and heavy weight facilities. This, in itself, might eliminate some embarrassment when using the weight room, but if further privacy is called for, women-only hours might be a viable solution.