As the end of the fall semester draws nearer, it’s important to address how Virginia Tech’s campus will undergo major changes before the spring.
Earlier in the year, the facilities department announced that War Memorial Gym will undergo renovations this December and remain closed until the fall of 2021. While it’s always a great idea to improve facilities at the university, closing one of two campus gyms for nearly two years will have a heavy impact on students.
It’s understandable why the school wants to renovate War Memorial. Students have complained about a lack of air conditioning and an overall stuffy gym environment. It’s been around since the 1920’s, so the building is due for some refurbishing.
But, despite the flaws War Memorial has, campus gyms aren’t built to be charming, high-tech facilities. Personally, I don’t go to the gym with high expectations. Campus gyms are here to serve a purpose and allow students a convenient place to work out; they aren’t here to look and feel like a spa. While small touch-ups to improve the general environment of the gym would be efficient and greatly appreciated, a full-scale renovation isn’t what students need right now.
As expected, War Memorial’s shut down will primarily impact all students who currently use the gym. But, it will also impact those at McComas Hall, students living on campus and incoming freshmen. The number of people working out at McComas will drastically increase when it becomes the only functional gym on campus. McComas is a great gym, but the experience is far from comfortable when it’s fully packed from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. If students want to exercise in a less busy environment, they will have to go during extended hours late at night or early in the morning.
The timing of War Memorial renovations also contributes to how it will have on students. With a larger-than-usual freshman class, Tech should be able to contribute vast resources for students who like to exercise, especially since gym fees are built into our tuition. Closing War Memorial so abruptly in the spring semester almost feels unwelcoming to the new freshman class among others who use the gym. Not only is the timing off, but closing the gym for two years adds to the damage. Students will have to adjust to losing a huge recreational space on campus for a significant amount of their time at college.
Overall, it’s important for students to know how prolonged renovations like War Memorial Gym impact their daily lives and that they should prepare for the adjustments it may bring. Even though the renovations are well-intentioned and will surely improve the building’s quality in a few years, the timing is off and seems unfair to students who didn’t have a say in the matter.
It seems like there is a disconnect between student needs and Virginia Tech’s renovation and expansion plans. Hopefully, the student body and faculty will discuss such matters more in the coming years.