The student newspaper of Bucks County Community College

The Centurion

The student newspaper of Bucks County Community College

The Centurion

The student newspaper of Bucks County Community College

The Centurion

Loading Recent Classifieds...

More Students Should Use Wellness Center

More Students Should Use Wellness Center

Most people take advantage of free things presented to them, but when it comes to the Wellness Center at Bucks many students seem to shy away from the free services it provides.

It is easy to use the Wellness Center. All that is required is a current student I.D., and a Health History and Agreement form along with a Release of Liability Form, both of which can be found on the Bucks website.

Students that have the proper forms on file and are dressed in appropriate workout attire can use the center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. The center is closed from 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Inside the center a variety of aerobic and resistance training equipment can be found, including treadmills, ellipticals, cycle bikes, an extensive free weight area, leg curl and leg extensions, and a resistance band station. A full list of the equipment available can be found in the “Facilities & Equipment” tab on the Fitness page of the bucks Website.

In addition to the equipment, the Wellness Center also offers free drop-in classes. Classes are offered on various days and times and involve activities such as yoga, step aerobics, hip hop, and core strength. Asking for the schedule flyer at the front desk inside the center is the best way to receive full information on these classes.

Considering all that is available through the Wellness Center, it would be expected that there’s constantly a large flow of students in and out of its doors. Surprisingly, this is not the case.

Many students are hesitant when it comes to using the gym. Some claim they have only ever heard of people going in there as a joke, while others just feel uncomfortable by the idea of working out in such close quarters. Yardley native Nico Albertson, a 19-year-old nursing major, states “there always seems to be alumni in there, so I feel weird joining them.”

For those that have used the gym, some claim that they often stopped going due to lack of time. James Drohan, 19, a business administration major from Morrisville, says his reason for halting his use of the center comes from scheduling issues. “I take a good amount of night classes and would prefer to use the gym afterwards, except it seems to close so early every day so I can never go,” states Drohan.

Kevin Hertkorn, 19, an environmental science and engineering major from Levittown says that he’s used the center a few times before, yet he prefers his regular gym. Of the Bucks center he says “there’s not as much equipment but what can you expect from a small room. It’s good for a quick workout between classes.”

Others disagree with the thought of working out between classes. 20-year-old Katie Hurley, a communication studies major from Lambertville, NJ, says “I haven’t used it because I don’t want to be all sweaty in class [afterwards], and when class ends I feel too drained to go.” Hurley says she prefers using her membership at her local Planet Fitness instead, since it’s easier to get to when she has the chance to work out.

Not all people are against the Wellness Center though. Many recognize that it is a great tool provided by Bucks, but personally don’t have the time to use it for various reasons. Biology major Stephanie Studley, 19, from Levittown, falls into this category, saying “I’m super thankful for [this resource], so if there was time allotted I’d definitely check it out.”

Use of the Wellness Center seems to come down to a matter of time for many students on campus. The limited hours of the center don’t fit well into their schedules filled with classes, work, clubs, and other activities. By paying for gyms closer to home, they know that they can use the facility at odd times that fit into their crowded schedules.