The Daily Bulletin Archive

Summertime in Buffalo comes midyear, and for many, midway between recurring New Year’s resolutions to get in shape. The difficulty of finding the right equipment, a convenient workout location, the time, or the money are all common reasons for avoiding exercise. Fortunately for Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff who want to be healthier, stronger, or trimmer, the Fitness Center is the answer.

Open since 2002, the Fitness Center is more than just a place to exercise. It doubles as a social gathering spot, rehabilitation center, and student learning lab.

David Alessi, payroll manager, understands the center’s many benefits. He has been a regular visitor to the center from the beginning and found its services especially helpful when recently trying to overcome tendonitis in his knees.

“I love to run, and didn’t want to get out of shape when the tendonitis kicked in,” he said. “So I used the elliptical machines on a regular basis to stay active. Going to the center really boosts my endorphins and takes away my stress. I feel crummy if I don’t go for a while.”

The Fitness Center is funded by the Athletics Department and received a major boost from United Students Government in 2003 for equipment. Admission for undergraduate students is free, and the cost for the rest of the Buffalo State community remains low compared with private facilities. Faculty and staff who wish to take advantage of the $135-a-year membership fee may choose to cover costs via payroll deduction—amounting to roughly $5 a pay period. Other options are available, such as fewer months or package visits.

The 4,500-square-foot center, located on the gym’s ground floor, was once a campus bowling alley. Now the center houses more than 45 exercise stations and 25 pieces of cardio equipment. Members may also take advantage of racquetball courts, a swimming pool, a basketball court, and a dance studio.

According to Nicholas DeMarsh, Fitness Center coordinator, the facility tallied close to 50,000 visits last year. Use should continue to increase this fall, and new equipment is expected to arrive at the start of the semester.

“Earlier this spring on a trial basis, we had bike machines where users could look into a screen of virtual environments, such as a forest or seaside trail,” he said. “Because of their popularity, we’re hoping to bring in four machines that can link together for races and help users keep track of their progress online. This is just one example of our responsiveness to member feedback.”

Learning-Lab Environment Comes to Life
By working together with the Health and Wellness Department, the Fitness Center staff turned a longstanding aspiration into a reality in spring 2008 by offering a personal-training service free to members.

Four student-intern trainers began offering sessions in March, and sign-ups quickly grew to about 50 clients. For most participants, the program consisted of four or five one-hour meetings: an initial consultation to determine goals and fitness level, two to three meetings to learn exercises and test equipment, and a final meeting to review progress.

DeMarsh said the pilot program was a huge success.

“From the beginning, we wanted the Fitness Center to provide an academic setting for teaching and internships,” he said. “Our partnership with [Assistant Professor] Sue Baldwin and the Health and Wellness Department provided direction and accountability. We received 100 percent satisfaction based on surveys, and plan to offer the personal training again in the fall.”

Trainer Julie Rodland, a senior-year health and wellness major, said classes such as kinesiology and exercise principles prepared her well. She had always enjoyed helping others and using creative skills to solve problems, but got even more enjoyment than she bargained for in her clients.

“To me, it was a big deal to see this program get off the ground, and I know it was important to the college, too,” Rodland said. “Being a trainer gave me confidence. I’ll always be grateful for this opportunity.”

Camaraderie and Rejuvenation through Exercise
Fitness Center members can also take advantage of a second-floor dance studio for aerobics classes. Kissinger Pool, located just down the hall from the Fitness Center, offers open swimming from noon to 2:00 p.m. And a full-size basketball court just above the center is the site for many pickup games.

Charles Mancuso, professor of music, was captain of the Buffalo State men’s basketball team as a student in the 1960s. The following decade, when he came back to teach, he worked with other faculty members to organize Friday-afternoon scrimmage games. These matches still take place today, with as many as 18 people regularly attending.

“A basketball game is easy to organize, and it’s easy to keep score,” Mancuso said. “You get a great workout because you have to play as much defense as offense. The people who play come from all walks of campus and all walks of America. It really tightens the sense of community here at Buffalo State.”

The Fitness Center’s lineup of elliptical machines and treadmills serves as a popular spot for working out and meeting others. Tom Renzi, coordinator of the Academic Skills Center, uses the machines in place of his lunch hour whenever he can.

“The Fitness Center has an upbeat atmosphere and is convenient to get to,” he said. “The machine area is well lit, and I like to read when I’m on the treadmill. It’s part of ‘the break’ for me.”

Jennifer Small, assistant director of alumni affairs, enjoys seeing familiar faces when she visits the center, but also likes making new connections.

“The Fitness Center doubles as a place for me to get work done,” she said, “because I often see people I don’t normally run into around campus. And with the endorphins pumping, people seem to be in better spirits when working out.”

DeMarsh said the benefits of exercise—having more energy at work, increasing productivity, staying sharper longer—should be obvious. “But the Fitness Center is also such a positive and uplifting place,” he added. “The people around you are all trying to improve themselves.”

“Working out keeps me sane and balanced,” Small said. “It gives me drive and determination to go from day to day. It’s refreshing and puts my mind in a different perspective.”