Even with the introduction of two new satellite fitness centers and the intention of constructing a new $20 million fitness facility, administrators indicate that they are still committed to maintaining the Bear's Lair and making it available to students.
The Bear's Lair, located in the Graduate Center, has an expanded schedule that went into effect Monday after months of erratic and limited hours.
The Bear's Lair will be open between 7 a.m. and midnight Monday through Thursday, between noon and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and between noon and midnight on Sunday.
The University's three other fitness centers - at the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center, Keeney Quad and Emery Hall - all have slightly different hours.
The varied opening and closing times of the four facilities are designed to ensure that at least one is open at almost any time a student wants to work out, said David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services.
The expanded schedule is the result of an assessment of student demand for the fitness facilities, Greene said.
After the opening of the satellite fitness facilities in Keeney and Emery, "we did not know what the demand would be and what the effect would be on the Bear's Lair by having a new fitness center with newer equipment a block away," Greene said.
"We thought for sure that the most heavily used facilities would be the two new ones and that they would detract some use from the Bear's Lair," he added.
Fitness center monitors were asked to track usage statistics to give administrators an understanding of how many students were using the various facilities, said Julie Richardson '07, a student worker at the fitness centers.
"The reality is that the demand for good fitness equipment and good fitness centers is high enough that we are not going to meet it with the satellite fitness centers," Greene said. "It was pretty clear that the demand was high enough that we ought to be committing the resources to having the centers open more hours."
The cost of staffing is the biggest constraint on fitness center schedules, Greene said. He added that he arranged for $25,000 to cover the increased staffing for the rest of this academic year.
Greene said he hopes that the University Resources Committee will allocate funds to cover the expanded hours of the fitness centers. But if it doesn't, he added, he is committed to finding the money another way.
"We are going to have to find it one way or another, because if we are going to have these centers we are going to have to keep them open," he said.
While frequent users of the Bear's Lair applaud the new hours, many students are unhappy with the condition of the fitness equipment.
Finding a treadmill to use is especially difficult because some have been broken, Richardson said, though she said the University recently repaired two treadmills.
She added that she often hears complaints about broken equipment when she works as a monitor at the facility.
The equipment at the Bear's Lair is older than that at the new satellite centers, but the administration will monitor the equipment and repair it as needed, said Matthew Tsimikas, assistant director of athletics and physical education.
Fitness equipment has a lifespan of only three years because of its heavy use, Greene said. He added that the University is considering leasing equipment instead of purchasing new machines to ensure that they are replaced more consistently.
The University will also be adding more accessory equipment such as stretching mats, Tsimikas said.
Greene envisions improving the Bear's Lair by doing more than just replacing outdated exercise equipment.
"I think the downside of the way we have the Bear's Lair laid out now is that there is limited space for social areas and study areas," Greene said.
Improving common areas is especially important in Grad Center, he said, because its suites tend to be more isolated than other dorms on campus.
Greene's long-term plan, which he hopes to implement in the next few years, aims to separate the fitness component of the Bear's Lair and add space that can be used for studying and socializing, he said.
The biggest change to fitness facilities at Brown will come with the new Jonathan M. Nelson Fitness Center. At Convocation in September, President Ruth Simmons announced three donations worth a total of $20 million to fund the project, and the Corporation approved the site and authorized the search for an architect at its October meeting.
Greene said he expects the new center to be an "absolutely first-rate fitness facility."
While most current students will not be at Brown to enjoy the new center when it opens in several years, they can take advantage of expanded hours and refreshed equipment at the current facilities.
Anne Troup '07 is just glad that she will not have to sneak into the Bear's Lair after hours to work out anymore. The new hours fit her schedule just fine, she said.
