College gym re-opens for students and the public

The crowd rippled with anticipation as City Councilmember James Gennaro held the green scissors in his hands. Then as Gennaro snipped the black and white ribbon, sending both ends cascading to the newly installed floor, the crowd released the cheer that they had been patiently holding back.
That was the scene on Thursday, September 14 at the newly re-opened Fitzgerald Gymnasium Fitness Center at Queens College which will not only be open to students, but to the community as well.
The fitness center, which has been doubled in size to 5,000 square feet, was made possible by Gennaro's $200,000 donation made from his personal discretionary funds.
Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn also joined the festivities. She contributed an extra $100,000 to complete the project. Mayersohn was responsible for donating new air conditioners to the facility to ensure proper ventilation.
The gym has free weights, 15 benches and squat racks, 30 pieces of aerobics equipment such as bicycles, steppers and treadmills, and 32 Cybex weight-training stations.
Nazia Tabassum, last year's vice president of the student association, said one of the big problems with the old gym was the lack of air conditioning. &#8220The old center was below the bar and outdated with bad ventilation,” she said.
She thinks more students will take advantage of the new gym because it is more luxurious.
Looking around at the new gym and its shiny equipment, Gennaro joked, &#8220Am I too old to work out?” The crowd laughed, but Gennaro later donned a red Queens College t-shirt and hit the treadmill at full speed.
The gym is free for all students as long as their ID card has a valid semester sticker. The cost for faculty and staff is $15 per semester. The community can use the gym at a cost of $210 and membership lasts from September 9 until May 23. The gym is open for community use Monday to Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Personal training sessions will be available at extra cost. Queens College is also offering training classes to become a fitness professional.
Many of the students on hand were enthusiastic to use the new gym. &#8220I think it's great, the other place was much smaller, but this place is huge,” Sammy Hussein, a student said. &#8220I definitely plan on using the gym, it's better than a membership.”