Photo via the Trustees of Columbia University

For all the shy freshmen too afraid to ask, yes, we do have a gym. I know the gym situation at Columbia can be daunting.
1. First of all, to enter the gym, walk down the stairs that come after Havemeyer but before Pupin.
2. It is known as the tri-level fitness center, code for underground and cramped.
  1. On the main level is the track (10 laps = 1 mile), a selection of cardio machines (ellipticals, striders, treadmills, bikes), weight machines, a few floor mats, and a yoga/dance studio (for class use only).
  2. Go down one level for the weight room. Females are WELCOME to workout in the weight room, though, at times, the testosterone and protein powder consumption can be overwhelming for those in ponytails and spandex.
  3. Down another level are more cardio machines, a handful of free weights, basketball courts, and a few more floor mats.
  4. On the bottom level (apparently not considered in the TRI-level-ness of the “fitness center”) is the pool.
To use a cardio machine, you MUST sign up for a 30-minute time slot on the spreadsheets located on the main floor (on the tables next to the vending machines before you get to the track). The official Dodge rules are that you can only sign up for one 30-minute slot at a time and you can only do so up to one-hour in advance.
1. These Excel docs are a point of much conflict for frequent gym rats. To avoid sweaty brawls, follow these tips:
  1. Don’t be the jerk who stops by the gym on the way to class in the morning in order to snag a peak 9pm slot. Show up a few minutes before the hour or half-hour and you should be able to secure a machine. If not, write in your initials for the next half-hour and go run around the track or do a 1,000 situps until it’s your turn.
  2. Don’t cross off anyone’s initials to replace them with your own, EVER. Respect that they got there first. No need to bring bad karma to yourself before stepping on a moving machine (see treadmill videos here).
  3. Make sure you remember which machine you sign up for. For example, the ellipticals are numbered one through four. There is a tag on each machine that says E1, E2, etc. Check the tag on your machine before starting your workout.
  4. If someone is on your machine at your assigned start time, casually stand behind them and check the elapsed time on the screen. If it says 29 minutes or something close and they are adequately dripping in sweat, assume they are going for 30 minutes and let them finish out their workout.
    1. If they show no signs of stopping (maybe they even just started), don’t be afraid to tap them on the shoulder, make them take out their ear buds, and ask if they have the machine reserved.
    2. More often than not, they will apologize, gather their magazines/bio lectures/Lit Hum books/iPhone and vacate. On the off chance they want to argue, decide if it’s worth it, and either fight your way onto the bike or abandon cardio to focus on weight training for the day.
Every single time you use a machine or lay on a mat, PLEASE clean it off afterwards. This means walking over to one of the countless paper towel dispensers, ripping off a paper towel, spraying it with the questionable disinfectant, and going back to scrub down the machine/mat.
1. Don’t be the person who only runs the water in the bathroom so people think you wash your hands; do a thorough wiping off of the surfaces your body touched. Your effort level should directly correspond to the amount of time you spent on the machine/mat.
2. With cold and flu season ahead, please, please consider everyone’s health. Don’t wipe your nose or cough all over your hands and then grip the machine. Sneeze into your sleeve. This is common courtesy.
Regarding the lockers:
1. There are one-time use lockers, day lockers, and over-night lockers. See the Dodge website for the pricing list and description.
  1. Secret fact: PE students can rent a day locker (return your key at the end of each workout, assigned a different locker each time) for the semester at a discounted rate. More accurately, if they pass the class, they can get $20 back at the end of the semester.
2. Lockers are most useful during the winter when braving the elements requires more than just workout attire. Theft is common (or the Man wants us to think theft is common) at Dodge, so it isn’t smart to leave your North Face on the side of the track or behind a machine in the weight room.
3. If you are just a weights person, you can likely make do without a locker because your stuff will never leave your sight. But if you run around the track, be aware that your Uggs are up for grabs.
Regarding the locker rooms:
1. I can only speak for the women’s locker room, but sightings of saggy, naked people are guaranteed. Take whatever precautions are necessary. I don’t know how this sense of freedom and comfort fits in with the rest of hyper-conservative modern America, but it happens. Why do we have dressing rooms at the mall if we can walk around naked at the gym? #JustWondering
2. It is common to use the automatic hand dryers to dry one’s hair post-shower. This often occurs while naked. Do not stare.
3. If you choose to shower with your peers (and elders), please at least wear flip flops. If you wouldn’t shower in John Jay barefoot, don’t do it in Dodge.
The hours of the gym are nearly impossible to find on the Dodge website, so here they are for easy access:
1. Monday-Thursday: 6am-12am
2. Friday: 6am-10pm
3. Saturday: 10am-10pm
4. Sunday: 10am-12am

An Outline of Dodge Fitness Center: Tips, Etiquette, and Hygiene

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