Malley Center Gets Facelift

Additional outdoor fitness area and classes open to allKimi Andrew The Santa Clara January 11, 2018The Pat Malley Fitness and Recreation Center welcomed in the New Year with new weight room equipment and fitness classes.Students walking into the gym will no longer be greeted with hack squatters and an outdated Olympic shoulder press. Instead, they will see entirely new equipment on the heavyweight side.“My goal was to make the opening more welcoming to all that would like to use the weight room,” Director of Recreation Janice DeMonsi said.“You now walk into the multi-use station and the free weights. The rest of the equipment is still there, it is just in a better layout and ideally provides more space.”Although some familiar machines are gone and have not been replaced, many of the new machines can provide the same type of work out.This update follows the creation of the outdoor fitness area which can be found between Malley and the Learning Commons.This area was made to provide members of the university with a place to get their workout in when Malley is closed.“Over winter break when we were closed it was getting a lot of use,” DeMonsi said. “For example, this weekend we are only open from 12-5 p.m. Students that like to come in at 10 a.m. can get a pseudo workout out there. They can do strength and conditioning training out there.”Sophomore Chris Wagers used the outdoor fitness area during finals week fall quarter.“I’m glad that Malley decided to make a place to workout outside of the actual weight room,” Wagers said. “I think it’s a good way to distribute space since the weight room gets crowded most days.”Some students disagree.“I have mixed feelings,” senior Evangelea DiCicco said. “It’s great to have new equipment. But the new layout is kind of weird and it feels more cramped.”Dicicco said she has not tried out the outdoor fitness area yet, but will when the weather gets warmer.The outdoor fitness area, which cost $40,000, was made possible by revenue generated by the gym’s summer program and alumni memberships.Additionally, after 17 years, both men’s and women’s locker rooms were updated during the break.Tiles were replaced along the walls due to normal wear and tear.The Campus Recreation Center is offering seven new classes this quarter due to its recent partnership with Les Mills.Les Mills is a company that trains fitness instructors and allows its partners to have access to those instructors.The three Les Mills classes being offered this quarter are GRIT, a 30-minute high intensity strength training class. BODYBUMP, a one hour strength training class. And CXWORK, a core and ab workout class.All 22 fitness classes are free to attend this week. Starting next week, students will need a punch card in order to access classes. Unlimited admission to classes for the quarter costs $85 if purchased this week, and $100 if purchased next week.A free Zumba class will be offered every Wednesday of the quarter from 7:45-8:45 p.m. on a trial period to gauge popularity.Contact Kimi Andrew at kandrew@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.