He peers through the glass doors, his eyes scanning the room for a mistake. A sweatshirt strewn over the side of a treadmill, a pocketbook perched suspiciously by a window -- each of these occurrences signals that enforcement is necessary.
Fortunately, enforcing the Pottruck Fitness Center's rules is head fitness trainer Michael Munson's job.
"Some people really don't like the rules, and they don't like being approached," Munson says.
Munson has been keeping watch over gym-goers at Pottruck since the center's opening a year and a half ago. A Long Island, N.Y., native, he has lived in the Philadelphia area for over 20 years.
Though many students may view Munson as overly strict, there is much more to his job -- and persona.
His daily tasks include leading personal training sessions, spotting weightlifters and "making sure that all of the clients that come in are comfortable," Munson says.
"I help oversee the running of the gym with the management [to make] sure that everything runs smoothly."
But he says he sees his role as spanning beyond the logistical, everyday responsibilities.
"My focus [is] motivating people to really change their lives," Munson says. "I don't have all the answers, but I try to support people and empower them."
Munson's interest in fitness and healthy living also branches into the field of nutrition.
"I grew up in the restaurant field, and I started cooking at a young age," he says, explaining how his career as a personal chef began.
His early interest in the food industry has culminated in a unique dietary genre.
"I've incorporated health, natural cooking and healing together," he says.
For Munson -- who came to Penn with a long history of experience in the fitness industry -- eating and exercising are inextricably linked; neither alone is sufficient enough to constitute a healthy lifestyle.
"It's more than just diet, it's the way we think, the way we see ourselves, [it's] learning how to make healthy choices," he says.
Although he describes Philadelphia as "one of the fattest cities in the country," he still remains confident that "we really can change our lives" by adjusting simple aspects of daily routines.
Munson says he thinks the Pottruck Center is "a great way to get your mind away from being so cerebral, [and] to get your body moving," adding that it also functions as a "way to blow off some steam after a long day at class."
But often, when students come to Pottruck to do just that, they end up instead being bombarded by rules. Walking into the cardio room with a bag often elicits a barrage of yelling, and even leaving personal items next to a machine is not allowed.
According to him, students' "etiquette is not as sharp and they're not as mature" compared to other Pottruck patrons.
"They're definitely messier, and you see a lot more attitude than you do with the older population."
His view of students is sometimes mirrored by their view of him.
"He's scary and evil -- but he's just doing his job," College sophomore Catherine Zamoiski says.
Others seem to side with Munson's perspective.
"There are lockers, so people shouldn't leave their shit around," Engineering senior Lesleigh Redavid says.
Although Munson says he is aware that some student reactions to him are mixed, he added that with others, he "gets along just fine."
"They appreciate your presence and see that you're there to help them," he says. "I think it just depends on the individual person themselves."
Ideally, Munson says he wants all students to view him as accessible.
"Hopefully, I come across as helpful and supportive."
