MAC Closed, Jocks Hit House Gyms

Before Monday, when “Closed For Construction” signs appeared on the doors of the Malkin Athletic Center (MAC), Carolyn C. Buckley ’09 worked out there three to six times a week. Since then, she has resorted to the Winthrop House gym, with its one treadmill, one elliptical machine, one bike, and a handful of weight machines.

In the wake of the MAC’s closing, students like Buckley are placing an added strain on House gyms, prompting some Houses to prepare special accommodations.

“We had a number of requests from individual Houses for equipment,” said Wendy Healy, area manager for the MAC and the Law School’s Hemenway Gym. “We didn’t have enough equipment to fulfill all the requests.”

Quincy House submitted one such request, according to House Master Lee Gehrke, although no new machines have yet been moved into the House’s gym.

“We anticipate getting some of the machines from the MAC on loan while it’s closed,” Gehrke said. “We do anticipate that there will be even heavier usage, and I think it will be a bit of a strain, but we’re hoping that the new equipment...will help alleviate that.”

Houses that require that students request keys in order to access the exercise room, including Winthrop and Leverett, have been overwhelmed by requests for key access.

“I’ve definitely seen quite a few rushing in last minute to get keys to our gym,” said Greg D. Bybee ’07, who is in charge of distributing keys to the Winthrop gym.

Bybee has sent out several e-mails over the House’s open list to tell residents that he had temporarily run out of keys.

The increase in key requests reflects the heavier traffic seen in House gyms, even in just the few days since the MAC has closed.

“A lot of people are worried because we have a very modest gym, and it’s starting to get much more crowded,” Bybee said.

But most Houses will not be getting more than one extra piece of equipment—if any.

Much of the MAC’s equipment will be moved to the basement of Wigglesworth Hall, which will receive a significant portion of the cardiovascular, strength, and other machines. Healy said this satellite location should be open to all undergraduates by April 2.

Some Houses are focusing on making the most of what is available. Adams House plans to rearrange its gym’s equipment to maximize the usage of its small space.

“What we’re doing is to...try to reevaluate how we can make the gym as efficient as possible,” said Adams Wellness Tutor Sarah E. Henrickson ’01.

Adams also plans to bring in personal trainers to hold free sessions on gym safety and proper use of the equipment.

The sessions, which will take place in several of the Houses, are being coordinated by the Center for Wellness and Health Communication.

—Staff writer Victoria B. Kabak can be reached at vkabak@fas.harvard.edu.