by Abby Koch–Working out is pretty simple in a weight room. First you choose what equipment you will need for your work out, possibly put some plates on the equipment, and get your reps in. When you’re done, you put away the items you used in the proper place.
Hindman-Hobbs Center (HPER) gym goers don’t seem to understand the concept of putting things away that well. There have been numerous times in the past three years that I have walked in there and it looked like a small tornado passed through. The mess that is left in the HPER weight room automatically puts a damper in my work out.
For me, working out is that break in my day to get away from stress through deadlifts and squats. It is also a space that has helped me avoid the notorious freshman fifteen and become leaner. But with the constant mess in the weight room, it has become a space that has caused me stress.
The plates and dumbbells that are strewn throughout the room are a safety hazard. The mess that is left behind by some is a disrespect to others who use the space.
Bryan Rohrbach, strength coach at West Branch High School and my trainer, explained the signal sent by leaving his and other weight rooms messy. “How you treat your facilities is a direct example of the respect you have for the school, coaches, and other athletes that use the facilities,” explained Rohrbach “If the room was a disaster after a workout that shows a lack of respect for myself, for the school and the athletic department.”
The Morningside swim team is one of the teams that use the facility, dealing with the mess that is left in there the night before and feel the same frustrations. “It makes me mad that people do not put away their weights correctly, and that I know my coach goes into the weight room each morning while we are warming up to clean up the weight room a little bit before we get in there. That should not be necessary,” said junior swimmer Tessa Renze “It is a part of sportsmanship to take care of the space that we share, and even if you are not in a sport, the same courtesy applies.”
Time is wasted due to the mess or weights left on equipment. Just as many times that I have walked in and seen a mess, I’ve seen people walk out with weight still on barbells. It takes time out of my work out figuring out if people are done with equipment and putting away their weights.
Jory Opp, a junior tennis player, has the same frustrations about his time being wasted by the mess and weights left on equipment. “Even if it’s not the best equipment, it still should be put away properly,” said Opp.
I know a majority of us on campus have been or currently are part of a strength and conditioning program. I am one hundred percent certain that our strength coaches have taught us how to put away equipment. So why are some forgetting weight room etiquette?
“They leave it a mess because they have no respect for the facility or the people that run it,” said Rohrbach “They also leave it a mess because I’m assuming there are no consequences for doing so. If you allow it, you teach it!”
We are definitely allowing our weight room to be a mess. No one speaks up about the issue, resulting in the same constant problem.
So, let’s make an agreement Morningside. Let’s change this habit of leaving the weight room a mess and just simply put away what we use. Let’s hold each other accountable by reminding each other to clean up.
We all share this space and it shows our respect for each other as Mustangs. It’s time to change our habits to better the campus and each other.
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