6 | The Villanovan
NEWS
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
OPINION
Campus Fitness Centers Need Earlier Hours Leah Cardinale Staff Writer On Villanova’s campus there is only one gym that opens early in the day: Davis Center Gym. More accessible gyms in McGuinn, Farley and Stanford Hall, which are more closely located to student housing, open at 11:00 a.m. For students who want to make the most of their days, this late opening is an inconvenience, as it discourages exercise and reduces productivity. So, why is the Davis Center Gym the only gym that opens at 7:00 a.m.? The Villanovan talked to Sr. Associate Director of Athletics, Lisa Harris, who explained the reasoning behind this phenomenon. “We’ve surveyed students several times over the years in order to try and meet their needs with our operating hours,” Harris said. “Since the Davis Center can accommodate the volume of fitness center users we see from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and we have a hard time finding student employees available in the morning, we just open the Davis Center from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. “Most students prefer to work out in the Davis Center, and it isn’t too far of a walk from any dormitory on campus, so hopefully our hours are not a deterrent to student wellness,” Harris said.
Gyms other than the Davis Center should have earlier opening hours. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography
Thus, it seems that Villanova’s main problem is the inability to staff gyms earlier, not students’ lack of interest in working out early. “I would like to go to the gym in Stanford before my classes,” freshman Reena Saraiya said. Freshman Julianna Petrelli loves to work out but says having
the gym open earlier would make life easier. “Having the Stanford gym and the other gyms open earlier would make them more accessible to students who have busy schedules,” Petrelli said. “People with [classes at] 8:30 [a.m.] who want to work out before class are left with limited options, as the walk
to Davis could be inconvenient for them. “I know in my experience, I have to be up early for classes and work, so I personally like working out before class, as it helps me feel balanced and relaxed for the day,” Petrelli added. “I find that it’s easier to bear the weather and go for runs early in the morning rather than trying to fit in the gym.” While the Davis Center is not that far from South Campus or the Commons, for students living on West Campus, it could be up to a 20-minute walk. On a winter morning, when it is below freezing, this walk is not appealing. The possibility of opening the other gyms on campus earlier, however, is not a far-fetched idea. According to Harris, there are many different options that can be explored. “Once the volume of fitness center use increases and we have more student employees available to work, we [will] open the satellite fitness centers in Stanford, Farley and McGuinn,” Harris said. Maybe a next step would be to survey students on what time the gyms should open, or whether satellite fitness centers should be open for use at 7:00 a.m., as well. Hopefully, more gyms around campus will open earlier so that students can have that motivation to get moving, while still accomplishing what they need to with their busy schedules.
Legalizing Transphobia: Tennessee’s Oppressive Policies
least one suicide attempt. This is a percentage that is more than three times the national average (9%) in that age group. Gender-affirming On March 2, Tennessee care has been proven to signifipassed a law banning both gencantly reduce suicidal ideation and der-affirming care for minors and improve quality of life for people drag shows performed on public with gender dysphoria. Taking property and in the presence of away this crucial treatment would minors. Minors currently underhave disastrous effects. going hormone therapy to treat This is not a subjective gender dysphoria must cease doing debate. The American Medical so by March 2024. Association (AMA) sent a letter Though Tennessee is to the National Governors Assothe first state to implement such ciation (NGA), pleading to “its policies, it is quite possible that it member governors to oppose state will not be the last, with several legislation that would prohibit the other states contemplating similar provision of medically necessary bills. Proponents of the law claim gender transition-related care to it intends to protect children from minor patients.” hasty self-mutilation and from “We believe this legislation inappropriate influences. represents a dangerous governSuch intentions would mental intrusion into the practice certainly be honorable, if they of medicine and will be detrimenweren’t a transparent lie. The tal to the health of transgender bill is nothing but an example of children across the country,” The creating issues where none exist, a AMA said. “Empirical evidence political strategy to pander to their has demonstrated that trans and voter base. If the 74 Republicans non-binary gender identities are and three Democrats that voted normal variations of human idenin favor of the bill truly cared for tity and expression…every major the well-being of transgender kids, medical association in the Unitthey would not have criminalized ed States recognizes the medical the procedures that are indispens- necessity of transition-related care able to them. for improving the physical and A clinic in Cincinnati con- mental health of transgender peoducted a study of youth aged 12ple.” 22 with gender dysphoria. 30.3% The AMA is joined by of the participants reported at the World Health Organization, Majo James Staff Writer
American Academy of Pediatrics and American Psychiatric Association in supporting gender-affirming care for minors. The AMA identifies this transphobic bill as a “dangerous governmental intrusion,” because it is based on religious arguments, a violation of the constitutionally enumerated separation of church and state. There is also the matter of banning drag performances to “protect children.” First, the most obvious problem is that this is unconstitutional. Drag shows fall under the protections of the First Amendment, the Freedom of Speech. The bill bans performances of “male and female impersonators.” If drag shows are banned today, what is stopping Tennessee law enforcement from targeting Pride celebrations tomorrow? The ambiguous wording allows for and even encourages the targeting of people with nonconforming gender identities. Furthermore, banning male and female impersonators is much more wide-reaching than just drag. In Shakespeare’s time, for example, all actors were male, including the ones that portrayed women. Productions today often end up casting people as a different gender than the one the actor personally identifies as, not to make a statement, but because there are
not enough actors. Treasure Island, Villanova Student Theater’s spring play, portrays Jim Hawkins as a cabin girl commonly mistaken to be a cabin boy. When asked “be you boy or be you girl,” she responds, “that be my business!” Even this relatively minor defiance of traditional gender norms could be prosecuted under Tennessee law. The new bill has been met with widespread outrage. The Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union have both vowed litigation against Tennessee for its discriminatory policies. This righteous anger is prominent on our campus as well. “[This law is] transphobic and disgusting,” junior Monroe Byer said. The Tennessee bill heartlessly denies the fundamental rights of already vulnerable children. It codifies the wave of transphobia sweeping the country. This is not the first time in U.S. history where discrimination has been forged into law to use as a weapon against the innocent. Indeed, the ugly face of Jim Crow has not yet faded into memory. It was not even a lifetime ago that segregation was considered constitutional. We must stand in defiance of this gross violation of human rights and protect our transgender children.