Full crowds hinder workout

The future Dedman Center is not enough to keep students hangingaround the crowded Cinco Center.

For the past two years, SMU students have worked out in theCinco Center.

The facility contains Cybex weight equipment and 26cardiovascular training machines for a student body of almost10,000. As a result of the overcrowded environment, many studentshave sought to join other workout facilities such as the PremierAthletic Club, 24-Hour Fitness and the YMCA.

Of 126 new members to join the Premier Club in August, 42 wereSMU students, Premier Club marketing director Annie Clark said.

Premier Club, a local gym, advertises to the SMU community nowmore than ever, because they have such high SMU student membership,she said.

The club had a booth at the One Stop Shop, advertisements in thestudent directory and will have a tent on the boulevard at thefirst SMU tailgate party on Sept. 20.

Though costly for the average student, a membership to PremierClub has become popular because of dissatisfaction with the SMUfacility and the amenities available that the Premier Clubprovides, Clark said.

At the Cinco Center, popular machines like the elliptical andtreadmill machines have 30-minute time limits on machines and asign-up sheet to guarantee availability.

Buona Diop, the center’s manager, said that more than 100people exercise in the Cinco Center between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., themost crowded time of day.

Teachers and classes consume morning hours in the Cinco Center.SMU faculty uses the center from 7-8 a.m., and the Wellness classesare there from 8-11 a.m.

The best time to workout is between 11a.m. and 4p.m. It is calm,quiet and the chance of machine availability is much higher, Diopsaid.

Diop and his 25 employees enjoy working at the Cinco Center, butalong with students, are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newfacility, which will begin renovations next spring.

In the meantime, Diop advises that students “respect thetime limits and clean the machines after use, because the CincoCenter is a facility for everyone.”

Still, some students are not willing to wait for the new centerto open.

Caroline Stephens, a junior and Premier Club member said,”I love the Premier Club for its diversity of members,quality group-exercise instructors and the spacious tidy lockerroom.”