JORDAN-CHRISTOPHER PURVIS
Staff Writer
There is good news, and there is bad news.
The good news is that the Blue Devil Fitness center, Dods Hall Gym and other athletic facilities on Fredonia’s campus will be reopening Sept. 21.
The reopening of athletic facilities was initially scheduled for Sept. 7, but due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases on campus, it was pushed back an additional two weeks.
As for the bad news, everything will not be the same as they once were before.
Last week, students and faculty members received an email from Enrollment & Student Services on behalf of Athletics and Recreation regarding the delayed reopening of athletic facilities.
“The opening of the Fitness Center, Dods Gym and other athletic venues scheduled for Sept. 7th is being delayed until at least Sept. 21st. The opening delay is essential to support campus efforts in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Students can support campus by practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. As soon as our numbers begin to ‘plateau or decrease’ the Fitness Center and other athletic venues will be prepared to open.”
Students will sign up using an online system for blocks of time in the Fitness Center or Dods Gym.
Time slots will be in one-hour increments, with the last 20 minutes of each hour reserved for cleaning and preparing for the next student.
Now, here are a few requirements and changes that students must adhere to this semester if they plan to exercise at the Fitness Center.
- Students will undergo mandatory temperature checks and a six-question health screening as part of the admission process. They will need to provide their full name, address and phone number, as required for contact tracing.
- Students must maintain social distancing when possible and wear a mask at all times.
- Acceptable face coverings include, but are not limited to, cloth-based face coverings and disposable masks appropriate for exercise that cover both the mouth and nose.
- Bandanas, buffs and gaiters are not acceptable face coverings for use in gyms and fitness centers.
- Students may register for one time slot per day.
- There will be no lockers available for use.
- The drinking fountains will be disabled, as the guidance suggests only bottle refill stations be utilized.
- Failure to show up for a registered block three times during the semester will result in a loss of the student’s ability to pre-register.
There will be a center divider in place for recreational play in the newly renovated gymnasium and an occupancy of up to only 15 people on each side.
As for the Fitness Center, no more than 25 people will be allowed to reserve space at a time.
According to the COVID-19 Dashboard webpage, there are, at time of publication, a total of 77 students that have tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
If numbers continue to increase over the next several days or even weeks, it’s very much possible that athletic facilities won’t reopen at all this entire semester.
You can direct any questions or concerns that you may have to Fitness Center manager, Jon-Ryan Maloney to his email address: Jon-Ryan.Maloney@fredonia.edu.