Letter: Tech should encourage gym use through free rental

Thursday, February, 19, 2009; 10:09 PM | 13 | | Print

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TOPICS: letter gym free clothing rental obesity

In response to the column "A few things to keep in mind before the next trip to the gym" (CT, Feb.19), the author is 100 percent correct in his opinion that the students in the gym isolate the employees when the students are in the wrong; however, the problem is not with the employees doing their job, it is with the university and its lack of commitment to helping students.

The university requires gym-goers to have appropriate attire but no attire is offered. I didn't see why I shouldn't be able to check out shorts, a T-shirt and a towel with my Virginia Tech ID and then return them without having to pay a fee.

If the student forgets to return the clothing or towel, then charge them. With the obesity problems in the country the university shouldbe doing everything humanly possible to get as many students in thegym facilities as it can; that startswith offering proper attire for free.

The article was fantastic; next time dig for the root of the problem and write about that.

Anthony Santago
graduate student,
biomedical engineering

Leave a comment 13 Comments Write a letter to the editor

Give me a break. | # February 19, 2009 @ 10:43 PM — Flag Comment

WAaaahh WAaahhh feed me, bathe me, clothe me WWWWAAAAAaahhhhhh *teethes, rattles rattle.

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Anonymous | # February 19, 2009 @ 11:35 PM — Flag Comment

I think better efforts pertaining to diet would help just as much as encouraging exercise.

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Alum | # February 20, 2009 @ 1:33 AM — Flag Comment

You can't afford crappy shorts, t-shirt and towel? Are you sh***ting me? The university lacks commitment to helping students? Eff off. How about you help yourself and not just sit back and wait for everything to be handed to you on a silver platter. Let me guess. You voted for Obama, didn't you?

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Anonymous | # February 20, 2009 @ 4:39 AM — Flag Comment

What is this?...a crank letter? I have to write one about how the university isn't supplying me with a free pillow so I can sleep properly in class.

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Another Alum | # February 20, 2009 @ 9:32 AM — Flag Comment

REALLY? I had no problem going to the gym in an old pair of sweat pants and an Orange Effect T-shirt I bought for $5. IF someone seriously wants to go to the gym and workout they will regardless of whether or not VT provides them with free gym clothes. I went to public high school and we were required to supply our own gym clothes and that was for a grade not recreation or chossing to excercise. Let's not give people another excuse to be the victim. I agree with Alum...must be an Obama supporter.

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Anonymous | # February 20, 2009 @ 1:56 PM — Flag Comment

this a joke, right? right? RIGHT?!

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Eric Wood | # February 20, 2009 @ 5:28 PM — Flag Comment

Not sure I would want to put on communal shirt and shorts that have been worn by 100 sweaty strangers before. But I think a towel service would work well in the gym. I was turned away once last year because they said my towel wasn't large enough. If towels were provided free (as they are at several other gyms), it would ensure that everyone used a clean towel every time, improving the sanitation of the gym.

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Deerrr... | # February 20, 2009 @ 10:15 PM — Flag Comment

Not sure anybody would want to use a communal towel there either chief.

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Hokie Alum | # February 20, 2009 @ 11:19 PM — Flag Comment

Are you kidding me? High end gym clubs provide an infinite supply of towels. You never bring your own. Providing towels is a luxury service. Every time I go to the gym, I get as many towels as I want.

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Gym Rat | # February 21, 2009 @ 7:11 PM — Flag Comment

1. Provide clothing to give it that old high school feeling with the lovely gym suits that everyone loved to wear. That would be great. 2. High end gym clubs charge high end $$$$. If you want students to pay the same $$$$ as those gyms so everyone can have those fluffy warm towels would go over real well. The $35 a year for towels as it is now is a great deal.

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Jason T | # February 23, 2009 @ 1:38 PM — Flag Comment

Not much in this world is free. Use of McComas is free, with paid VT admission. Universal health care is free, with increased taxation or at the expense of other government programs. Given the expenses associated with purchasing, laundering, and distributing gym clothing, it really doesn't look like a great use of money. Besides, I'm pretty sure that "lack of gym clothing" wouldn't make the Family Feud list of "reasons why people don't go to the gym."

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Towel thing sucks | # February 25, 2009 @ 8:22 AM — Flag Comment

The whole towel thin sucks though, the size of towel that they want you to use is pretty much half a load of laundry, of which is an extra $3 a week if I go to the gym twice and feel like washing the towel. Either don't require them or make them free, those who have them will use them and those who are germaphobes will bring their bleach.

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TNH | # March 5, 2009 @ 12:53 AM — Flag Comment

What is the point of this Letter. Many gyms and other institutions have clothing requirements. I don't see how someone going to the gym wouldn't simply have the clothing required. I mean ask your parents or get a part-time job if somehow you don't have any money after paying for all the other expenses associated with college.

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