After almost a full month of functioning, the new gym is being subjected to first rounds of evaluation. The possible criticism or applaud is and will be always very subjective, nevertheless it should not harm to ponder about the shortcomings, achievements and possible improvements.

The location in the Green House outside the campus was seen as the major disadvantage of the new gym before it was actually opened. Comments about people being too lazy to get there were quite common. However, this claim proved to be ill-founded. The sport advisors report that the gym has been used more frequently than ever before. The fact that quite a large number of new body-builders and fitness-concerned students joined the squad of regular gym visitors is also noteworthy.

For all new and returning gym visitors it was definitely pleasant to find out that the new fitness center is not only more spacious, but that it was also equipped with many brand new machines. One thing I really liked about the old gym, however, was the abundance of rowing machines. Nowadays there is only one real rowing machine in the new gym. Therefore it is not possible anymore for me and my friends to engage in our own personal Ergo Cup. Since the other rowing machines were left in the sports hall, the administration perhaps wants to support the rowing team even more by privatizing the rowing machines only for the members of the team. Nonetheless, I must admit that the variety of other machines is broad enough and they offer a great choice of both healthy and body-building activities. I also find the pictures explaining the usage of each machine very useful. For inexperienced gym visitor, these photos with comprehensive comments are of immense importance, especially when accompanied by a proper demonstration by one of the sport advisors.

One problem, however, still remains to be solved: the opening hours. Why is the gym closed, for example, on Friday evening? Nobody has classes at that time, people want to relax after a stressful week by doing some exercise, but there is nobody on the team of the sports advisors who would be willing to sacrifice the time and open the gym for fellow sportsmen. That is very unfortunate. I also wonder what makes Tuesday so special that the gym opens only at 16:30? If the university had enough money to buy the brand new equipment for the gym, can they not also spend additional money on hiring one more sports advisor, who would fill in these empty slots? Students would then have the chance to use the new equipment and enjoy the spacious setting of the fitness center as much as they want.