Concerns over new fitness center discussed at SGA
By Francisco Omar Fernandez Rodriguez
Associate Editor
Students discussed changes in the size and location of the University’s Fitness Center and shared concerns regarding the lack of access at SGA’s meeting on Sept. 29.
The University recently relocated the student fitness center to the former campus store. Now, what was the student fitness center, located on the upper level of the Athletic Center, is a facility reserved for athletes. The campus store was recently relocated to the McCarthy Center.
Senator Vilmarie Santana said several students had asked her if something could be done about the new fitness center, which is the one non-athletes are allowed to use.
Mirrors and certain machines are now only available in the original fitness center, which is now restricted to athletes only, she said.
Previously, machines were available to everyone, she said.
The grand opening of the general student fitness center is on Oct. 2, Santana said.
Senator Cam Rokes said the restriction for the original fitness center impacts more than just non-athletes.
He said, “I only found out today - I believe that top space is only for varsity athletes.”
According to the FSU Athletics website, the original fitness space upstairs is now called the Varsity Fitness Center.
Rokes said many of the students he spoke to in the fitness center were frustrated about the change.
The changes involving the old fitness center, the new fitness center, and even the bookstore were abrupt, he said.
The game room was removed and “they put the school bookstore there, and all of a sudden they just put all of the old equipment down a floor and called it a gym,” Rokes said.
Such a sudden change would definitely upset people, he added.
He said he wanted to discuss how to potentially upgrade the new space.
“We can’t necessarily get back into the upper space, but we can figure out how we can make the community gym more community-friendly,” Rokes said.
Student Trustee Jamie Kuenzel said there was an issue with the contractors regarding the mirrors, but they are planned to be installed in the future.
She also said she can speak to the director of athletics about the problems.
Senator Jayden Jefferson said she’s working on forming a focus group to interview in order to get a better sense of the situation with the fitness centers.
In an interview with The Gatepost, SGA Vice President Nathan Piette said the Senate is deciding on their best course of action.
“We at Senate had some concerns brought to us by at least five people about the new fitness center being split into two sections - one for varsity athletes and one for everybody else,” Piette said.
He said the conclusion at the moment is “this was a surprise. This is not ideal, and the students inside and outside SGA have begun talking collectively about how to bring those concerns to admin forum.”
SGA does not have an official stance on the matter, he said.
In her report to the Senate, Kuenzel said a member of the Board of Trustees will likely be at the admin forum meeting.
“The member who will be coming, or who will most likely be coming, is also an alumna,” Kuenzel said.
Piette said Model UN requested funding for their trip to the Bar Model UN Conference.
He said the amount is similar to what has been approved in previous years, and that in the Finance Committee, Model UN brought information explaining the market-rate prices.
Senator Gracie Wyatt moved to allocate the amount of $1,991.25 from the 2026-2027 SATF unallocated funds. It was seconded by Senator Jamila Daikha and passed unanimously with one abstention.
Piette said the Volunteers of FSU requested funding of the same amount that had already been approved for their first weekly “meeting meals.”
Piette added he is president of Volunteers of FSU and Rokes is their treasurer.
Volunteer organizations typically feed their volunteers, he said.
“We are a volunteer club. We are a work club. Our fun thing is serving others. We do a bunch of work in the volunteer space. You’re expected to have food for volunteers,” Piette said.
Senator Cameron Higbie moved to allocate the amount of $1,800 from the SATF unallocated funds. It was seconded by Senator Kennedy Thompson.
The motion passed 20-0-6.
The Senate discussed a proposal for a new Pre-Veterinary Club. Senator Evelyn Richter moved to approve the constitution of the Pre-Veterinary Club. It was seconded by Senator Louie Ranieri. The motion passed unanimously.
Piette said the Safety and Security Ad Hoc Committee, which was created to run the Safety Walk and look for any safety needs, is planning to follow the same route and process as last year.
Wyatt, Richter, Ranieri, Daikha, Santana, Jefferson, Desiree Ambila, Troy Edebiri, Kercheena Pamphile, Kerri Graham, Jadelyn Bailey, Jayla Ross, Gladys Sanan Espinoza, and Marian Awuah were sworn in as senators at the meeting.
Piette said three more senators are planned to be sworn in next Tuesday.
The final number of senators in total will be 27, which is close to the maximum capacity of 30, he said.
In terms of the clubs with funding requests and the Pre-Veterinary Club’s constitution, he said they are now waiting for the next steps from EXP.
“EXP is very on top of it and is doing a great job,” Piette said.
Ranieri, in an interview, said he’s happy to be at a university that has a community that wants change.
“That’s really cool to see that there are kids willing and wanting to make a change, because a lot of kids now just sit back and say someone else will do it,” Ranieri said.
[ Editor’s Note: Nathan Piette and Louie Ranieri are staff writers for The Gatepost. ]
