Does Lasell Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

Does Lasell College Promote a Healthy Lifestyle?By Brian Thone

(Photo credited to http://bearcat.knationu.com)

In a land of extravagant workloads, exhaustive schedules, unparalleled levels of

stress, frequent binge drinking, and endless junk food consumption, college students may

easily fall victim to the manipulative environment where he/she is living. Like other

schools, Lasell College is a residential institution that provides its students with fitness

centers, an indoor basketball gym, and dining options on campus. The question is

whether or not the services being provided are sufficient for the near 1,700 attending

undergraduate students.

There has been speculation regarding the subject amongst the Lasell community,

and several individuals were sought out to express their opinions regarding the issue.

What remains to be determined is whether the cause for concern is a result of the lack of

resources, or the students’ failure to take advantage of them.

Fitness Centers

(Photo credited to lasell.edu)

Lasell has two fitness centers on campus: McClelland and Edwards. Both

facilities are listed as having over 2,000 square feet of space, and are open for over 85

hours per week according to the school’s website. During that time, a CPR certified

student staffs each location for safety precautions.

In the past two weeks, each location has undergone renovations, and has been

stocked with new cardio machines, free weights, and other fitness equipment. While the

college has made a clear effort to upgrade the facilities, the hours of availability still

frustrate some of the students.

“Although we are a small school, there are not entirely enough treadmills to go

around. With only two gyms, that’s less than 10 treadmills. Everyone uses treadmills, and

they’re usually on them for a while. On top of that, there are always sports teams in there

working out. The gyms close super early, so people never get a chance the use the

equipment,” said sophomore Miranda McCrea.

Sophomore Chris Armstrong also voiced his frustrations.

“When I go to workout, if I want to do a certain exercise, there’s usually someone

using the equipment I need. On top of that, it’s usually pretty tight in there. They need to

expand on the gyms in my opinion. Like I get Lasell is a small school, but there’s still

what, around 2,000 students? The student body isn’t getting any smaller,” said Chris

Armstrong.

When asked if the facilities were adequate, sophomore Alex Faszewski said, “For

the most part, I do think that the gym fits our needs as a student body, but the hours on

the weekend are a bit odd, and my friends have complained about them in the past. The

gyms were just redone though, so now there’s new and better equipment, which is a

positive.”

Athletic Center

(Photo credited to lasell.edu)

Unlike the fitness centers, Lasell has one indoor basketball court that is used by

all of the school teams as a location for practices, as well as games for the basketball and

volleyball teams. The limited hours of availability depend on whether or not the gym is

reserved by a team, club, or for a school event. Given the school’s location of Newton,

Massachusetts, it is often the case that the weather forces teams that would usually

practice outdoors to utilize the athletic center. This continues to be and ongoing issue,

and is cause of irritation for many students including sophomore Chris Pease.

“It’s ridiculous. We’re paying all of this money to go to school here, and we don’t

even get to use the gym. There’s only one court, and the

only time we can use it is during classes or around

midnight. It’s only open until six on Saturday too. So the

only time we can use it is when it conflicts with our

schedules,” said Chris Pease.

Exercise not only is good for physical health of

individuals, but it is also a great way to relieve stress. The

lack of availability of the gym may be seen as unhealthy in

the eyes of students.

“I’m constantly working or doing homework. I have to work as much as I do so I

can go to school. Just shooting a basketball with my friends sometimes helps me deal

with the stress from it all, and I can rarely even do that. You’d think the school would be

promoting positive things to do during our free time, like working out, but that option

only really is available to athletes,” said McCrea.

Lasell’s Athletic Director, Kristy Walter, understands why it may upset some

students.

“Managing the facilities is challenging, just in terms of space. Having one indoor

facility is just really a challenge, especially in the winter. You know baseball, softball

“It’s ridiculous. We’re paying all of this money to go to school here, and we don’t even get to use the gym,” saidPease.

have to go in the gym, both basketballs are in the

gym, volleyball is in the gym so we have no free

time in there and just kind of balancing all of that

is difficult,” said Kristy Walter.

When asked if there were plans to add

another gym, Walter said, “As a small school, we

are limited in the money that is available to be

spent on facilities. We are also extremely limited

in space. There has been talk of adding onto the gym for a while now, but right now

we’re simply not in a position to do so. It’s on everybody’s radar, but it’s not going to

happen overnight.”

Dining Options

(Photo credited to the 1851 Chronicle)

The food at Lasell creates the most controversy amongst the previously

discussed issues. The Valentine Dining Hall has very little variety in what it serves on a

day-to-day basis. Students also frequently question the quality of the food. Other than the

“You’d think the school would be promoting positive things to do during our free time, like working out, but that option only really is available to athletes,” said McCrea.

dining hall, the other options are Einstein’s, which is the equivalent to a poor man’s

Dunkin Donuts that closes before dinner, and Boomer’s Grill, located in the dining hall,

which remains open until midnight. McCrea expressed her displeasure with the school’s

food.

“There are very little nutritious food offerings on campus. In the dining hall

there’s usually fruit in the morning for breakfast, as well as oatmeal and yogurt with

granola, which are all great options. Turkey bacon and turkey sausage are better

alternatives to regular bacon and sausage, but no one wants to chew on a piece of turkey

bacon that is tough like leather. They need to make more appealing options available. As

for lunch and dinner, everyone goes for the unhealthy pizza because it’s the only

appetizing option in the dining hall. Sometimes there’s grilled chicken, but it usually goes

fast. And I know everyone is sick of the salad,” said McCrea.

Regarding the other options on campus, McCrea said, “As for other food

locations on campus, Take 3 has the same options every single day: fruit cups and salads.

No one wants that. The campus center is pretty good since you can get a bagel or a

breakfast sandwich anytime of day, but that should be

included with our meal swipes. We shouldn’t have to pay

extra for good healthy food. The food at Boomer’s is all

greasy and horrible for you. We not only need more

healthy options, but a larger variety.”

Faszewski seemed to follow in line with her

peer’s way of thinking.

“I have friends that refuse to eat the food on campus. I don’t blame them for it either,” said Faszewski.

“There are healthier, nutritious options, but I don't think there are enough of

them. There's a salad bar and then sometimes vegetables at the main meal station, but I

wish there were more options. I know that I myself eat a lot less fruits and vegetables

here than I do at home-- I've started bringing back fruit for myself when I go home and

eating it in my room. I have friends that refuse to eat the food on campus. I don’t blame

them for it either,” said Faszewski.

While Lasell is striving to make improvements on campus, facility hours and

food variety are things that need to change. It is crucial to the health of the students that

such changes take place. With the school’s population growing annually, the problems

will only continue to worsen until action is taken.