UW welcomes students back to Half Acre but see low turn out

Submitted by Bailey Vogler

The 2020-2021 academic year has been a time of changes and learning to adapt, as the majority of classes are moving online and fewer students are physically on campus. Students in Laramie are welcomed back to the University of Wyoming’s Half Acre Gymnasium this spring semester. Full-time students at UW are able to attend classes and to workout at Half Acre, but must wear masks and have green COVID Passes.

As of March 31, reservations are no longer required in order to work out at Half Acre.

The Half Acre Gym has a total of three levels, and students are able to utilize all three floors. Only a limited number of people are allowed per floor of the gym for COVID-19 safety reasons. This is for the safety and security that students coming in and out of the gym can comfortably complete their workout and are negative for COVID.

A highlight video will be available on the Half Acre website and YouTube channel titled “What to Expect at Half Acre” to answer students’ questions on using the facility.

“Implementing cleaning protocols and signing up for each respective area are part of the Governor’s orders,” Kevin Bretting, fitness coordinator for the Half Acre Gym, said. “I recommend for students to go to the campus rec website for students to learn and know what’s going on.”

How COVID-19 has affected staff and students

The new COVID-19 guidelines and reservation system has resulted in confusion and a decline in attendance at the Half Acre Gym. This may be a result of having fewer students on campus as well. Other students expressed their opinions on how the process seemed more difficult and lack of communication between the university and the students.

Students are not going to the gym because they are not aware of the possibilities of attending or what steps are required.

“After hearing about the restrictions it was too intimidating and difficult to try to figure out the new system,” Carolanne Walls, a sophomore at UW, said. “I live off campus this year and didn’t think it was worth it.”

These numbers affected classes offered at Half Acre including one of the most popular classes, Zumba. The staff who work at Half Acre have expressed the difficulties to these changes.

“It has added a lot more stress because there are so many procedures to do before teaching,” Karina Rodriguez Triana, a Zumba instructor at Half Acre, said. “It is not as simple as just going and dancing.”

“It isn’t a dance party like it used to be”, Bretting said.

Zumba is an example of a very popular, free class offered to students that would host up to 25 students in a fitness studio. But due to new restrictions, only six students, who must sign-up in advance online, can attend with the instructor in the same studio.

“It has definitely been way stricter but I think it is really necessary. I like the way it’s been handled,” graduate student Priya Guray said.

She works from home and enjoys the opportunity the gym provides to safely leave her home and meet new people. While Guray agrees with the new guidelines, she and other students responded similarly on what they think could have been done differently with the re-opening of the gym.

What could be done differently

Many students did not know that the Half Acre Gym had reopened its doors to students again until they heard word-of-mouth from friends.

“They could have been more clear about it. Not everyone knows what’s going on. I didn’t even know we were going to have access to the gym this semester,” Taylor Kennha, junior at UW, said.

Kennha also believes that the gym should provide more instruction for going to the gym during the pandemic.

If the university put out more information to students, would the number of attendees increase and encourage more students to attend Half Acre? Students and staff interviewed both gave similar advice on what Half Acre Gym could have done.

Walls said they could have “posted more information on other media platforms rather than one email at the beginning of the year.” The Half Acre Gym has not been as occupied as it has in previous years, but with more information about guidelines and classes the Gym has to offer.

Half Acre Facility and program area hours will start on Monday, April 5 and go until May 16.

Students are encouraged to visit the following websites for more information and to stay up-to-date.

Campus Recreation Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/uwyo_campusrec/?hl=en

Campus Recreation Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/UWYORec

Campus Recreation YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXusaiw8UIuot_CXbHRSJg

Fitness Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/uwyofitness/?hl=en

Outdoor Program:

https://www.instagram.com/uw_outdoor_program/?hl=en