AUC to Revamp the Ladies Gym

By: Malak Kamel
@MK__Malak 

The Athletics Office at AUC says it is responding to a number of complaints from students about the unfavorable conditions at the ladies-only gym located inside the locker room area on the ground floor at the sports complex.

A number of students had earlier taken to social media to express their frustration at the state of the faulty machinery, the untidiness, and small size of the workout space, which they say is turning them off from getting a proper workout.

“I don’t even understand why it [the gym] is operating if the machines are not working,” Feryal Abdelbaki, an undeclared freshman, said.

The gym announced its return to normal operation on September 30, after its lengthy shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the excitement surrounding the news, many students were left dissatisfied with what the gym had to offer.

“Honestly I was very shocked when I saw the gym. I expected the university to care more when it comes to ladies,” Malak Ahmed, a Business sophomore, said.

Comparisons between the condition of the ladies-only gym and the all-inclusive gym soon surfaced and brought to light the contrasting states, leading some female students to say they feel subjected to sexism.

“It is very humiliating to let the ladies workout in a very small room with nothing while they let men have a huge room with all the machines and dumbbells,” said Jana Al Ashkar, a Business Finance major who has been weightlifting for five years.

Al Ashkar said she would only use the gym again if it was renovated properly. This includes buying new machinery, providing dumbbells, yoga mats, and ensuring good ventilation in the closed space.

“Some girls will feel extremely uncomfortable working out around the other gender,” Al Ashkar said, reiterating why the ladies’ gym is important and not only to those who might be veiled, as some might wrongly assume.

The complaints, in the meantime, have not fallen on deaf ears.

Sharif El Arian, the senior director of the athletics office at AUC, readily acknowledged that there were problems which needed to be addressed.

“I personally looked at all the facilities and I realized the place where the ladies gym is located is completely inappropriate,” Al Arian told The Caravan.

Having joined the AUC team in September, Al Arian has many plans that are still in progress, including the complete renovation of the ladies-only gym.

At the time of going to press, the registration process to book a time slot for working out at the ladies-only gym has been suspended, pending new and improved facilities.

Al Arian added that students should expect a new location for the ladies-only gym, with higher ceilings, more lighting, and functioning machinery.

“We’re creating a survey to evaluate the times that ladies prefer to work out alone so we can dedicate time only for them and the other times it’s open for everyone,” Al Arian clarified, explaining the new method of operation.  

As a former Olympian,  as well as the Executive Board Member of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and President of the Modern Pentathlon Federation, Al Arian emphasizes his belief in complete equality between men and women in sports.

“We all have a duty to push toward the involvement of women in sports and even in the administration,” Al Arian said.

He believes there is a lack of data surrounding sports at the university level, and that this is what his team are currently working vigorously toward to ensure an elevated experience.

The operation of the new gym is yet to be announced, but Al Arian confirmed they are working as fast as they can to ensure renovations are done in due time.