By Ashley Gough | Editor-in-Chief
Fulltime students have recently been required to pay a membership fee of $60 per semester in order to use the Fitness and Wellness Center facilities, where it was previously free. This came as a shock to many students who have voiced complaints about the change. The change came with short notice over the summer in the form of an email, letter or announced on signs put up around the Fitness Center entrance.
Steve Washkevich, Director of the Fitness and Wellness Center, stated that the implementing of fees to students was a way of being able to keep up with rising costs without having to raise membership fees for non-students. He also stated that with an annual rate of $320 for a non-student adult member of the community, the $60 fee per semester was still a significant discount.
Amy Doucette, a student at the Mount, stated that she thinks the Fitness Center should be free for all students. She also mentioned that with the problems of obesity and poverty in America, it would be a great benefit to students to have access to this facility for free. Doucette then said, “When it comes to utilizing resources that could aid you to better your health, or with paying your bills, I don’t think there should be a choice. I think we can use all the help we can get.”
According to Washkevich, the money paid for membership fees goes to general building operations, as well as employee salaries. He stated there are currently 3 full-time and 65 part-time employees, all of whom can access the facilities without cost.
Washkevich also mentioned that most colleges have started to charge students for access to their facilities. However, according to web and telephone surveys of local schools conducted by The Observer, every other community college in the state of Massachusetts in fact currently offers free access to their fitness facilities to full-time students and, in most cases, all students. According to this research, Quinsigamond Community College charges all students an activity fee of $25, and Greenfield Community College charges a $30 activity fee. Holyoke, Mass Bay, Northern Essex, North Shore, Berkshire, Roxbury, Massasoit, Bristol, Cape Cod, and Middlesex Community College all permit free use of their fitness centers with no additional student fees.
This membership includes use of all exercise equipment, the pool, gym, and any classes being offered. Personal training, tanning, and use of the nursery cost extra. Other fee information can be found at the Fitness Center front desk.
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