Everybody loves the gym, right? It’s full of kindhearted people who are definitely not judging you, the loudest, strangest music you’ve ever heard and absolutely no air conditioning. What’s not to love about it?
I believe that there could be some advancements to the gym environment though, especially here at Drew. Many aspects could be improved to ensure the comfortability and enjoyment of everyone who works out at any level, which would enable more people to go as well.
First of all, everyone needs to go to the gym between 5 and 6 p.m. That one hour of the day is perfect because practically no one goes to the gym then. If more people work out at exactly that time there would be many more opportunities to make new friends, and everyone would be forced to share the same equipment which would form stronger connections.
Another way we can improve the gym is by leaving all of the weights on the machines after use. This will ensure that everyone ends up doing the same weight as you, which would make everyone so much stronger.
I believe gyms are also not loud enough. If everyone plays their music loudly through speakers instead of headphones, and if more people yell and scream with every set and repetition, the gym would have the perfect amount of noise.
One of the most important things in my opinion is that the gym needs to be a messier environment, and one way this can be done is by not wiping down equipment after using it and leaving all those pleasant germs behind. There is honestly no point to it and it takes so much vital time from your workout to clean up afterwards.
It’s not like a study performed by the National Library of Medicine showed that between 10 and 30% of tested gym equipment contained certain types of bacteria commonly linked with skin infections, or anything.
Besides, no one in the gym cares about their health when it comes to germs and bacteria, they merely care about gaining insane muscles and flexing them everywhere they go.
I think the gym could do without certain machines too. There’s just no need for all of the equipment when everyone could just use the same one.
Like the smith machine and bench press, for example. There is only one of each throughout the entire gym, but that’s perfect because no one is ever using them anyway.
There is no need to fix the broken machines either. Honestly, the machines that are broken are just making sure you work harder.
Allie Cannon (‘28), who frequently attends the gym, said, “Drew University needs a better gym environment! It is way too lonely and quiet, and no one gives me advice anymore.”
To combat this problem and many others, there can be countless positive advancements to ensure that everyone in the gym is connected, comfortable and jacked.
Casey Bush is a first year and currently undecided.
Featured image courtesy of Casey Bush.
