By Imani Johnson
Staff Writer
Strength and conditioning are vitally important for any athlete, and the 1,400-square-foot weight room at California State University, Dominguez Hills, provides a place for Toro athletes to do just that.
Unfortunately, it’s also the same weight room used by the general student body, as well as several classes.
“The athletics department would prefer to have a larger weight room, and prefer to not share it,” said Jeff Falkner, in his third year as director of athletics for CSUDH. “Not because we don’t like sharing, just because it is hard to fit everything in with the time that’s allowed.”
About 14,000 students, 12 hours of kinesiology courses each week and between 185-200 student athletes can access the weight room, which is located in the field house. The general student body has access from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays.
“It’s not an ideal situation but like anything else, we do the best we can to make it work, and we certainly don’t use it as an excuse for anything,” Falkner said.
Senior Imari Brown, a kinesiology major and former women’s basketball player, enjoys how the weight room is being utilized by those who want to use it.
“I have no problem sharing the facility with everyone else on campus because it promotes a healthy lifestyle option for people who have time before, in between, and after class,” said Brown. “I do however feel that the weight room should be a bit larger and have more machinery.”
CSUDH’s situation pales in comparison to that of California State University, Long Beach. Athletes have their own facility while the student recreation and wellness center is a 126,500-square-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art hub for recreational activities, programs, and fitness and wellness services.
“It just varies on every campus,” Falkner said. “Although, I absolutely think Dominguez Hills will be well served to have a wellness center for its entire campus community.”
Junior David Dorsey, a business administration major, occasionally attends recreation hours at CSUDH.
“If it was open more hours I would definitely go more frequently,” Dorsey said.
The weight room was refurbished in the winter of 2017. Falkner said the equipment was designed specifically for the limited space and “each platform station (can accommodate) two or three different people at the same time, so it makes for more functional space for us.” Yet, there are times when there are too many people, and not enough space.
“It can be crowded at times, especially on the bench presses,” Dorsey said.
Falkner understands the importance of balancing the needs of student athletes, the general student body, and kinesiology classes.
“We want our student-athletes to take advantage of what we have and that’s the weight room, our strength and conditioning coach, and the entire program,” Falkner said. “But I also understand that kinesiology has its role in education. And for everyone on campus, health and wellness are important. So, if the opportunity presents itself, I certainly think the campus could use a wellness center.”
If the university eventually creates a wellness center, it would be welcomed by both general students and student-athletes, Falkner said.
“Students would love it and student-athletes would love not being so limited in terms of when they can get in the weight room and when they can’t,” he said.
