Fitness now free for students

Starting this semester, Amarillo College students can use the facilities at Carter Fitness Center at no charge.

Starting this semester, Amarillo College students can use the facilities at Carter Fitness Center at no charge.
Starting this semester, Amarillo College students can use the facilities at Carter Fitness Center at no charge.

Any enrolled Amarillo College student will now have free access to the Carter Fitness Center located on the Washington Street Campus.Beginning August 24, the CFC no longer required an extra fee each semester to use the facility. Students were charged $1 per credit hour of enrolled courses at the time of payment for fall semester tuition instead. “If a student enrolled for 15 credit hours, they paid an additional $15,” explained Craig Clifton, Director of the Carter Fitness Center. The board of regents voted last spring to increase student gym fees to secure funding for the CFC. Fees attached to the Sports and Exercise Sciences department originally funded the CFC as well as renting out the basketball and volleyball courts for 15 dollars an hour. One of the issues that occurred before the new changes was that many students expected they could use the facility for free. “In the past, students who wanted to use the gym had to purchase a $30 membership,” Clifton said. “There was an expectation that since students paid for tuition that they didn’t have to pay for a membership and students were not paying for it.” Since the new fees were implemented, the CFC has seen an increase in students. “The first week we had 350 new members and it has increased since then,” said Lamara Keys, a general studies major and CFC student worker. “It has been a crazy week, but it’s good to see students come in and use the facility. It makes me really happy.” Clifton said they will look at the students’ needs and will try to adjust them year to year. Students have expressed positive views on the new changes and are excited to take advantage of the courts and equipment. “I definitely will come to the gym because now that it is included in the tuition, I don’t have to pay a monthly membership at a gym. I can just come here and workout,” Sydney Farley, an education major said. The facility offers a selection of weight training and cardio machines as well as basketball and volleyball courts. It also has dressing rooms and lockers. The CFC had an open house on September 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 345-5515.

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