COLUMN: What facilities are really needed?

Josh Callahan, Commentary Now that there is a plan on the table to build up Penn's recreation facilities, one has to wonder if there is really a need. Yes, survey after survey was returned to the University's consulting firm, Brailsford and Dunlavey, with request after request for new types of facilities, but will those people show up once they are complete? In case anyone missed it, it was sunny and 50 degrees yesterday. This El Ni-o-driven warmth prompted West River Drive to be packed with rollerbladers, runners and bikers. How many students were outside getting exercise? Maybe instead of making insignificant "demands" for new facilities, the UA can show that it would use them by going for a run or throwing around a football. As silly as it sounds, engaging in athletic activity is a more meaningful and tangible demonstration of the need for more student athletic centers. Despite the 1,000 club sport athletes and numerous other recreational athletes, Penn can in no way be considered an athletic school. When the leaves fall off the trees in late October, it seems the majority of students huddle up in their jackets and take a sabbatical from aerobic activity. If that is the case, why should the administration appropriate tens of millions of dollars for new athletic facilities? It's Field of Dreams in reverse; once they are built, no one will come. The counter argument is easy; if Penn had good athletic facilities, students would be more inclined to go out and use them. That argument, however, is a hell of a risk to take. For example, if Penn does build an indoor track, will anyone use it besides the track team? Clearly the recruiting ability of the track team and the image of the University would be enhanced with a shiny indoor surface, but if it is only in use three hours per day for one quarter of the year, why not use the money on something more students would take advantage of? If there was really a need for an indoor track for student use, Franklin Field should have been packed today with runners enjoying the spring like day. As it stands now, the stairs of Franklin Field serve as a more frequent workout for students than the track. Weight rooms face the same issue as an indoor track. Will students flock to a new facility? New equipment has been added to Gimbel Gymnasium this winter, but there is still not frequent overcrowding of the weight area. The weight room in Hutch is also busy, but will improving and expanding it result in an equal growth of users? With Sweat opening up just across the Walnut Street bridge, students now have a nearby, large, high quality, brand-new gym to join. It has an aerobics area, lots of treadmills and other cardio-vascular machines, plus a full, bright yellow weight room. Maybe students who really want a new workout place should be told to join Steam. It's not free, but Penn will be able to use the athletic facilities' money on some other more widely-desired project. In contrast, basketball and tennis are two sports in which there seems to be a demonstrated need for expanded facilities. All six of each court surface are continually crowded, with waits for students easily hitting an hour. By overcrowding current facilities, students have shown that new ones definitely deserve to be built. There is no doubt that Penn's image would be improved with the installation of a new Sansom Common- sized athletic center. A good number of students would use it. Before the construction teams are rolled out, however, students should honestly consider the likelihood that they will use the facilities on a regular basis. Nothing should be built just to say we have it. We should build only to fill demonstrated voids. Judging by yesterday's lack of commotion on a perfectly beautiful day, maybe we don't need everything we want.