Carlson Fitness Center Re-opens
Sophomore Kieren Lopez worked out Monday morning, the first day that the Carlson Fitness Center was re-opened.
Knowing that the Carlson Fitness Center (CFC) was opening up on Monday, sophomores Jehna Ramiscal and Kieren Lopez booked a 9 a.m. appointment to secure a spot in the gym for their workout. The university’s Dean of Students, Allison Jerome, had sent out an email to students, faculty, and staff on Friday stating that the CFC will remain open through the end of the Fall 2020 semester on Nov. 25.
However, moments after her first workout on Monday morning, she was happy that it was open but confused as to why it took so long.
“I feel like they could have used the same exact plan in October,” Lopez said. “… I don’t know why it was pushed back until like two [and a half] weeks before school ends.”
Chaminade event manager Shawn Sueoka understood the sophomore’s confusion.
“We wanted to make sure that we were ready to go,” Sueoka said Monday afternoon.“I wouldn’t want to open up the fitness center and then have to close down the fitness center right after unless the government tells us that we have to close it down.”
The CFC is open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m.-10 a.m. and 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and is closed on Sundays. CUH allows 15 minutes in between the time slots to allow transition of users and for staff to clean the fitness center. Masks must be worn at all times, and only four people are allowed in the gym at a time. Students, faculty, and staff must complete an online reservation form for the CFC on the CUH Portal prior to using the center. The form can be found in the Bookmarks section of the CUH Portal. People are limited to a one hour reserved time block per day. If there are fewer than four people signed up for one time block, the CFC will accept walk-ins on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ramiscal stated that there was one other person in the gym while her and Lopez were working out. Some of the equipment in the gym, like a squat rack and the ellipticals, were taped off with caution tape in order to keep users socially distanced while working out. All the doors were open, and there were multiple fans to blow air throughout the center. Ramiscal and Lopez both agreed that they were happy CUH is taking proper precautions for the safety of users but complained that it was hot in the gym and that wearing a mask while working out was uncomfortable.
“Our concern is not heat; our concern is air circulation and the health and well being of people,” Sueoka said. “In this Covid-19 situation, air circulation is a priority no matter where you go.”
Sueoka stated that CUH is expecting more students to come back to campus in February when the spring semester starts, so the university wanted to give the CFC a test trial to see how it functioned with fewer students on campus during the fall semester.
“As far as I know, and you know things can change with a drop of a dime, the plan is to have it open from February 1st until the last day of school,” Sueoka said.
On the first day of being opened, there were some full capacity time slots and other time slots where the time slots were not at full capacity.
CUH is following the City and County of Honolulu’s phased reopening plan, so the CFC schedule is subject to change at any time, without notice. Right now, the island of Oahu is in Tier 2, which allows for gyms and fitness facilities to be at 25 percent capacity.
If you have any questions, please contact the CFC manager Shawn Sueoka at [email protected] or (808) 735-4778.