By Kiara Catanzaro
News Assignment Editor
The Richter Center received new cardio equipment during the summer. Rob DeFazio, director of the Center for Activities, Recreation and Leadership (CARL), talked about the new updates students will see from the project.
“The biggest change that we made was the cardiovascular equipment and its new features,” DeFazio said. “The most significant feature is the wireless Internet. Anyone can check Facebook or ESPN. Anything that a student can do on their computer, they can do while working out.”
Beyond wireless Internet, students will be able to pull up saved documents or essays on the machines.
“Each machine has its own USB port, so students will be able to save their workouts to their phone,” DeFazio said. “Or, if students have papers on their USB, they can pull them up on the screen and read them while they work out.”
The new cardiovascular equipment also has a new course system available for students who would like to be more adventurous while working out, according to DeFazio.
“The equipment has different courses that you can select from,” DeFazio said. “For example, you can run on a trail in New Zealand, Germany and other places. Each machine has different locations, so it’s not the same list of places for all of the equipment.”
Students have noticed the updates made in the Richter Center and the comments regarding the equipment have been enthusiastic.
Sabine Wakim, a sophomore international studies and philosophy major, said the new equipment is a positive change.
“This summer, I participated in Cross Fit training, which is a difficult training program that became popular this summer,” Wakim said. “I thought that it would be difficult to come back to Bonaventure and reach that same level of intensity with working out. But, the new cardio equipment in the Richter Center compensates for my previous routine, and makes it easy to increase the intensity of my workout.”
Wakim added that the addition of the courses on the cardio equipment makes it easier for students to have an effective workout.
“The cardio machines feature different running courses, which distract you while you run because you have the sensation of being on a track when you are actually running on a machine,” Wakim said.
Aside from running through different trails around the world, the equipment. has a number of other innovations.
“The machines also feature apps, which we will have more in place throughout the semester,” DeFazio said. “However, we currently have solitaire, so students will be able to play games while working out.”
DeFazio said the university can afford the newest and most technologically-advanced equipment available because they don’t buy the machines right away.
“St. Bonaventure leases its equipment,” DeFazio said. “We are responsible for budgeting a certain amount of money each year so that we can lease the newest equipment. Our current machines are on a three-year lease. At the end of the lease, we can purchase new equipment without fundraising or try to find out where we will get the money. This allows our school to stay with the times and stay ahead of everyone else.”
DeFazio also explained the various benefits that students and the university will receive from leasing gym equipment.
“Many other schools buy their equipment, which is fine. However, technology improves and the equipment deteriorates after years of use,” DeFazio said. “For some schools, it costs a lot of money to maintain their equipment. So, it’s beneficial both financially and technologically to lease equipment.”
DeFazio said he intends to bring new programs for students and faculty to campus.
“I would like to try and create more programs using the new cardiovascular equipment,” DeFazio said. “We are doing a freshman 15 challenge where we challenge students to exercise for 15 hours from Sept. 15 to Oct. 11. During that time, it will get (freshmen) in the habit of exercising. Also, our school is participating in a monthly marathon where students and employees will be entered in to win.
