Editor’s Note: This opinion-piece does not represent the opinion of Beaver’s Digest but rather it reflects the personal opinions of the writer.
With winter approaching and the rain already here, students are turning towards Dixon Rec Center’s wide array of indoor activities to blow off steam. But students who are hoping to destress with some strength training will quickly find that a lot of other people had the same idea.
As OSU’s student body grows, and with the astronomical rise of social-media-driven “gym culture” in the past few years, Dixon Rec Center is getting more traffic than ever. In fact, according to Recreation Sports Associate Director Brian Hustoles, Dixon hosted roughly 800,000 visitors in 2024, up from 725,000 in 2023 and 600,000 in 2022, a 33% increase in only two years.
The primary complaint received by Dixon staff is frustration about overcrowding and long wait times to use equipment. While it may not be the satisfying response sought by stressed students, Hustoles states that financial constraints prevent weight room expansion.
“Instead (of expanding the weight room), we are focused on more economically feasible solutions, such as optimizing existing Rec Sports space,” Hustoles said.
One such optimization is the outdoor Fitness Courtyard which was unveiled in April of 2024. This courtyard filled a previously underutilized space and now hosts strength training equipment, allowing students to get a tan while they train during the sunny months.
Weight Room 2 has also been outfitted with free weights, benches, and cables to supplement their well-loved counterparts in the main weight room.
Given that there are no significant weight room expansions coming in the foreseeable future, students should shift their attention to the many strategies they can implement to maximize the efficiency of their workout.
Tips
- Be assertive.
- If someone is hogging the equipment you want, instead of asking “how many sets you got left,” and then standing around waiting for them to finish, politely ask if you can “work in” with them, A.K.A. “share.” It only takes a moment to get your new gym buddy straightened out with their desired weight between sets.
- Be generous.
- The reverse of tip number 1; if you’re using a popular piece of equipment, be ready to share with others. Getting enough rest between sets is important, but don’t let your phone extend that break beyond what is necessary. Instead, if you see someone waiting, let them use the equipment while you’re resting. Who knows, you might even make a new friend!
- Be flexible.
- All the machines you want to use are taken? Keep your workout routine fresh and grab some free weights for an analogous exercise. Mirrors too crowded? Get some extra steps in and head over to Weight Room 2.
- Branch out.
- Weights are great, but Dixon has plenty more to offer. Swimming pool, basketball courts, exercise classes, climbing walls, and cardio machines galore to name a few. If the weight room’s got you agitated, try a change of pace. You never know what your new active hobby might be.
- Beat the traffic.
- Peak hours at the gym are from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you can, find time in your schedule to fit in a workout before or after the horde rolls through. Dixon is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 to 9 on the weekends.
