2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
No boys allowed?
Harvard creates women-only gym time, but such a policy unlikely for Penn
Priyanka Dev
He pointed out first that Harvard's QRAC was one of several different fitness centers on its campus, while Pottruck is Penn's primary workout facility.
Men on the street would still be able to view users during women-only hours due to the building's architecture and glass windows.
Though Mahoney said the department would be open to discussing the issue, he added that it would be a "difficult juggling act" to carry out such an initiative based on the original purpose of the building.
"When Pottruck was opened, it was a center that was open to the entire community and in that sense it was supposed to bring people together - black, white, Asian, Muslim, male and female," he said.
College junior and Muslim Students Association vice president Amanda El-Dakhakhni said that many Muslim students and faculty members have suggested that such a policy be implemented.
"I think there's a significant number of women that would take advantage of it," she said.
Although there has not yet been a push for a policy similar to Harvard's, "it's definitely wanted," she said. "This might be the next step of making [the MSA] known on campus."
El-Dakhakhni suggested making one level of Pottruck women-only for a few hours instead of closing the entire facility, an idea that Mahoney said would likely be unfeasible because "the building is open for everybody."
Men on the street would still be able to view users during women-only hours due to the building's architecture and glass windows.
Though Mahoney said the department would be open to discussing the issue, he added that it would be a "difficult juggling act" to carry out such an initiative based on the original purpose of the building.
"When Pottruck was opened, it was a center that was open to the entire community and in that sense it was supposed to bring people together - black, white, Asian, Muslim, male and female," he said.
College junior and Muslim Students Association vice president Amanda El-Dakhakhni said that many Muslim students and faculty members have suggested that such a policy be implemented.
"I think there's a significant number of women that would take advantage of it," she said.
Although there has not yet been a push for a policy similar to Harvard's, "it's definitely wanted," she said. "This might be the next step of making [the MSA] known on campus."
El-Dakhakhni suggested making one level of Pottruck women-only for a few hours instead of closing the entire facility, an idea that Mahoney said would likely be unfeasible because "the building is open for everybody."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 64
No Sharia at Penn
posted 2/27/08 @ 5:22 AM EST
I'm not about to compromise my right to use the gym to cater to somebody's anachronistic superstitions.
QAndy
posted 2/27/08 @ 7:20 AM EST
What the heck is "unfeasable" about letting the Moslems use the top floor fitness room for an hour a day?
kat
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:28 AM EST
I graduated a while ago (2003), but I could have sworn there was another gym on campus -- Hutch. Couldn't that be the one that they close off? Or, couldn't the naysayers just go to that gym during the off-hours?
There are certain floors at Pottruck that are really not used that much. (Continued…)
Richard
posted 2/27/08 @ 9:16 AM EST
This is not a Muslim country! We will go by Muslim rules in a Muslim country, you go by ours here. Any policy as this will just cause inconvenience to almost everyone and totally not needed. (Continued…)
Scott
posted 2/27/08 @ 9:38 AM EST
Slowly but surely the Muslims are killing our country. What ever happened to our Constitution and freedoms!
JJ
posted 2/27/08 @ 9:46 AM EST
I took the poll before actually reading the article. Now, I actually think that this would be worthwhile to test out at Penn and could be encouraging for all women to attend the gym more often. (Continued…)
Volker
posted 2/27/08 @ 9:52 AM EST
There is already single-gender swim at the Sherr pool (men: Sun 10-11, women: Sun 11-12). It would be easy to assign some single-gender hours to the 4th floor exercise room, and it would not inconvenience anyone. (Continued…)
design guy
posted 2/27/08 @ 10:17 AM EST
Closing all of Pottruck to men for any period of time? Unacceptable. Unless, of course, they're willing to reduce the cost (us grad students have to pay for that place if we want to use it) proportionally for men. (Continued…)
like boys
posted 2/27/08 @ 11:30 AM EST
i actually didn't know about the single sex hours at the pool and dragged a male friend with me to swim early one weekend only for him to be escorted out of the pool area. (Continued…)
Just for equality's sake
posted 2/27/08 @ 11:33 AM EST
Well, I propose that my religion begins causing me problems in the engineering buildings during the day. Not being able to lounge around in my underwear drinking beer is very upsetting to my religion. (Continued…)
Post a Comment