The crowded atmosphere at the Reily Student Recreation Center can be a difficult puzzle to navigate for Tulane University students and their fitness goals. Due to the influx of students who prioritize health and the gym, Reily has developed a problem: overpopulation. 

A crowded gym environment disrupts workouts and leads to an overall morose sentiment in the center, even causing problems outside the center, as Reily develops a desperate need of operational changes.

Wait times for machines and benches takes away from the overall impact of the center. According to The New York Times, there has been a rapid growth of young people who exercise. Although this surge is beneficial for the community, it heavily strains the facilities at Reily that are not equipped for this new rise in fitness culture.

Reily has comprehensive equipment but still suffers from the growth of the fitness population at Tulane. This year, I have observed the struggles in the center, such as long delays for courts and problems in the weight room. Students who want to get their daily workout in with weights face issues like congestion and overall decline in quality of their exercise environment. It can even pose a threat of unsafe conditions for students in the weights area. 

Freshman Troy Merrit echoes this sentiment. “Every time I head to the gym, especially during peak hours, it’s like hitting a wall. You can’t use the machines you want, and you have to wait long periods just to get a spot. It’s discouraging and makes you reconsider coming back,” he said. 

To address this issue, the university administration needs to implement various initiatives. This includes expanding parts of the gym that are used more, like the weight room, and remove areas that people seldom go to. 

Tulane could also extend the hours of the gym, which would lead to a better capacity distribution throughout the day. Reily could use a reservation system for peak times. This would lead to a more fair system in the center, particularly for women, who might have a more difficult time finding space in a male-centric weightroom. Ultimately, this leads to a more active and healthy campus, which the administration should want. 

The benefits of improving the facility go beyond just the overcrowding problem. 

As stated by the Harvard Health Publishing, performing regular exercise boosts mental ability, increases productivity and creates stronger ties in a community. Exercise will result in a more successful, tight-knit academic environment at Tulane. These implementations should be a priority for the school, as it sets an example for other colleges to follow suit and bring fitness for all students to the forefront. 

An overcrowded gym is much more than what’s on the surface; it diminishes the community and academic benefits of the students. It is essential that the administration addresses these issues, promoting a healthier life for the whole student body.