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Recreation Center Board of Governors considering change in attire policy
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Boise State University’s Recreation Board of Governors is researching a change in the clothing/attire policy at the Recreation Center. Specifically, the change deals with shirts worn on or around the cardio and strength equipment.
The Rec Center’s Web site policy states that unaltered, sleeved T-shirts, covering the torso and shoulders, must be worn in all activity areas, with the exception of the gymnasium, running track, racquetball courts and group exercise studios.
The board is not actually proposing a change in the policy; but they are simply investigating how students feel about the current guidelines. Surveys were made available to all students at the Rec Center customer service desk, as well as students who checked out laptop computers at the SUB.
As of Feb. 22, over 300 surveys had been collected at the Rec Center alone. Distribution of the survey began on February 10 and continued through Feb. 23.
Two major questions make up the majority of the survey; one asking if the participant knew about the current apparel policy, and the other asking them to decide upon the minimum clothing requirement for a variety of activities available, including free weights and strength machines, the climbing wall and the basketball and racquetball courts.
The minimum requirements range from a sports bra to a t-shirt for females and from no shirt to a t-shirt for males.
Once the results are calculated, they will be presented to the board, who will then discuss possible options. The board is currently made up of staff members and students, and their primary purpose is to make recommendations to the staff concerning a variety of issues.
According to John Lloyd, assistant director of facilities at the Rec Center, there has been both praise and criticism of the current policy.
Comments in favor of the existing policy include the fact that it helps people feel less self-conscious and more comfortable when working out.
“One comment mentioned that the dress code had created an environment based on health, not on meeting guys or girls,” Lloyd said. “The complaints, however, rang
The present policy was established by a group of students before the facility even opened, and is modeled after several schools that have similar policies. According to Lloyd, there are three major reasons the students chose the policy they did. The first is to create a welcoming environment for all gym-goers.
“A lot of times when you allow tank tops and cut offs, going to the gym is more about showing off than working out,” he said. “The t-shirt policy helps to prevent the “meat-market” atmosphere present at other gyms.”
A second reason is to simply preserve the equipment, Lloyd said. The Rec Center currently has over a quarter million dollars worth of strength and cardio equipment, and t-shirts catch potentially harmful sweat.
Lastly, Lloyd said it is a health issue, and that t-shirts help prevent disease transmission such as ringworm, which has been linked to exercise equipment.
Senior Associate Director of the Rec Center Jenny Nigrini is one of several staff members who will actually have a say in whether or not the policy changes. As of right now, she currently favors the existing policy.
“I do like the current policy. I know that there is a contingent of our patrons who are not particularly happy with wearing a t-shirt in strength and cardio areas, but the policy really does help create an environment that is inclusive,” she said. “I feel part of my responsibility is to help foster lifelong healthy habits and if this policy can make it easier for a non-exerciser to begin, I think that is important.”
When deciding what to do however, Nigrini said she will look at the situation from the perspective of all involved.
“I will wait and study the results of the survey as well as the other information collected by the Board of Governors sub-committee before deciding how I think we should proceed,” she said.
Should the board of governors decide to alter the current policy, the entire Rec Center staff will be involved with the change. Students interested in more information can contact Lloyd at 426-5651.
Emily Poitevin / News Writer
