An open forum will be held on Nov. 2 to discuss what new additions will be included in the Student Recreation Center extension, and students are encouraged to provide input.

“”We want to get student input on every aspect of the addition,”” said Juliette Moore, director of campus recreation. “”The architect will be present at the meeting so that even designs can be modified.””

The groundbreaking for the extension will happen in the next six to eight months, and the building should be complete and open for business by April 2009.

But until then, students will continue to battle long lines and overcrowding in the Rec Center.

More than 3,500 students frequent the Rec Center daily, a figure that is not dramatically larger than previous years but still contributes to growing lines and wait times for exercise machines and equipment.

Moore said she and others who work at the Rec Center have recently noticed the overcrowded line for the weight rooms and the recent growth of interest in the offered classes.

“”We’ve seen a big influx of people coming in,”” Moore said. “”All of our activity space is being utilized.””

The Rec Center offers group activity classes ranging from self-defense and first aid to tennis and ballroom dance. Moore said she believes these activities, which have grown in popularity, may be why student participation has been so high.

“”The classes being offered bring a lot of people in who normally wouldn’t be coming,”” Moore said. “”The Rec is appealing to new interests.””

Michael Gordon, a nutritional sciences freshman, has a few ideas of his own to add to the future addition.

“”They have a fair amount of machines now, but they could improve on their maintenance,”” Gordon said. “”I’d like to see them renew some of the machines and have newer models. I think the addition is great for the exercise community.””

Kaila Lavin, a pre-physiology freshman who works at the front desk of the Rec Center, said the the center’s peak time is 5 p.m., when students are getting out of classes.

“”It can get really busy,”” Lavin said. “”The weight room is hard to get into during then.””

Sarah Sturm, a sociology sophomore, said she regularly goes to the Rec Center and isn’t happy about the long lines.

“”Being overcrowded is a huge problem,”” said Sturm, who takes kickboxing classes. “”I hate when people reserve machines. … It’s never done correctly. There are a bunch of unused machines that people can’t use. There aren’t enough elliptical machines, which is a huge problem because that’s what a lot of people are coming for.””

Moore said all activity spaces are usually filled to their full capacity with students concerned about their health.

“”A lot of people exercise so to not gain weight,”” Lavin said. “”A lot of freshmen (work out) so they don’t put on the freshman 15.””

Sturm said she believes that the Rec Center’s growth is a benefit for all of campus.

“”I think that’s fabulous,”” Sturm said. “”I think that this Rec Center is too tiny for the size of campus we have, and it’s a great resource. This can only make exercising better.””