The Battalion
Thursday
Hovember 16, 1995
'k on:
jlnior management major Alanna Strait's size makes it difficult to use the
^ Weight machines in her weight lifting class. » *
Small problem
Students face difficulties in weight training classes because of size
By Helen Clancy
The Battalion
A simple glance at the weight room in G. Rollie White Colise
um can be deceiving. There are Olympic-size bench press
es, aged Nautilus equipment and chin-up bars. Nothing in
the room appears to be discriminating and unfair, but some stu
dents say it is.
Students in strength training classes at G. Rollie White Colise
um say they see a deception, especially if they are under 5’3”.
Allana Strait, a junior management major, said that the Nau
tilus machines are unsuitable for students of small stature.
“The equipment was made for large, muscular men, and I’m
5T”.” she said. “It’s not fair for women to be lifting on men’s
machines.”
Mandy Manderscheid, a sophomore psychology major, said
she has difficulty lifting and adjusting most of the machines.
“I can’t reach the pull-up bars, and I have to lower the squat
bars, which is difficult and dangerous,” she said. “The equipment
is best suited for males.”
Not only is inconvenience an issue to small students, but safe
ty is also a major concern of some students when working out on
certain machines. Some students cannot secure the weights on
the leg sled to exit the machine.
“I know that if I don’t have someone help me. I’m going to hurt
my back,” Manderscheid said. “If they had a better machine, this
wouldn’t be a problem.”
Strait said her safety is jeopardized when working out on the
leg sled because hundreds of pounds are suspended above her on
a ramp-like machine.
“They have people standing around you in case the weight
falls, but if they slip, the weight could crush you,” she said.
Teri Wenzel, a strength training instructor, said manufactur
ers have developed machines smaller students can use.
“Technology has produced machines that are smaller and can
be adjusted,” she said. “The machines we have now do not accom
modate smaller and weaker beginners.”
Some students wonder why state-of-the-art equipment was
purchased for the Student Recreation Center while classrooms
were left with outdated and possibly unsafe equipment.
“It seems that they are modernizing the wrong things,” Man
derscheid said. “If we could have our class in the Rec Center, it
would be great.”
Strait said education should supersede recreation and the
University should take responsibility for the lack of equipment
in the classrooms.
“We’re having to pay a lot for a class that has less equipment
and counts for a credit toward our degree,” she said. “People
aren’t going to learn by going to the Rec Center — they have to
learn in the classes.”
Although the facilities in the Rec Center are more advanced
than the classroom machines, Wenzel said the kinesiology de
partment fully utilizes its existing facilities.
“We do real well with what we have,” she said. “This depart
ment fights so hard, but only so much money is allotted.”
Ernie Kirkhamy coordinator of developmental activities in the
kinesiology department, said efforts are always being made to
improve the work-out facilities. He said that in the past, student
input has brought about positive change.
“We’re constantly trying to upgrade, but there are always go
ing to be limits to that,” he said. “We have to do it as we see spe
cific needs.”
Kirkham said there is not enough funding to allow the complete
renovation of the facilities. However, the department has never had
a problem getting money for basic equipment in the classrooms.
“We’ve always gotten a lot of support from the people above
the classroom level,” he said. “It’s never been a fight.”
Since the prospect of replacing the existing machines is im
practical, Kirkham said students who cannot work out on the
Nautilus machines should try free weights as an alternative. He
also said instructors should show their students different types
of free-weight exercises that work the same muscle groups.
“If we had no machines in there, you could still learn the basic
principles of strength training,” he said. “Machines are a conve
nience, but for general development, the trend is swinging back
in the direction of free weights.”
Although most Nautilus machines have a free weight alterna
tive, the leg sled machine does not. The students’ performance on
the leg sled is graded on the final test, which students say is un
fair to those who have difficulty using the machine.
“I don’t think I have an equal opportunity in this class be
cause the odds are stacked against me,” Strait said.
There are no immediate solutions or alternatives for students
like Strait.
Kirkham said the machines were designed to fit the average
citizen and not everyone is average.
“It would just be a matter of making sure there’s someone to
spot her on the leg sled, and to assist her with the finish of the
exercise,” he said.
Shane Elkins, The Battalion
Mandy Manderscheid, a sophomore psychology major, stretches
to use the leg-press machine.
U2 and friends slow down the pace
ly Michael Landauer
"he Battalion
The Passengers may carry a
lot of luggage, but they don’t
seem to have any direction.
To understand the Passen
gers’ Soundtracks, ,we have to
figure out the album’s purpose.
It was made by members of U2
IBono and Luciano Pavarotti share vocals on "Miss Sarajevo," a song
{about a beauty pageant taking place in war-torn Bosnia.
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and a few other passengers —
including Luciano Pavarotti. It
is definitely not the next U2 al
bum. The group is not market
ing it like a U2 album, and fans
would be greatly disappointed if
it was.
The fact of the matter is that
Soundtracks was a project with
out much of a purpose at all.
Ever since its pinnacle of
musical accomplishment on The
Joshua Tree, U2 has redefined
itself several times.
Rattle and Hum was the
group’s American phase. It was
an outgrowth of the group’s
American tours, and it pushed
the band to the point of Beatle
status, breaking opening day
sales record set by Let It Be.
And then it was on to pop
culture for the band, which
flaunted Achtung Bahy with
several Zoo TV Tours. Bono
usually appeared on stage in
metallic sequined suits and, in
Houston, drank champagne out
of a cowboy hat.
When the band went back to
the studio, it created Zooropa,
which had little appeal. It was
the antithesis of pop culture,
containing songs that seemed
to indicate that the group
thought it could produce any
thing and it would sell.
So now the big question
looms — What direction is the
group headed in?
Unfortunately, Soundtracks
offers little help in answering
this question. It is a project in
which U2 and friends recreate a
few songs they heard in foreign
movies.
To American audiences, the
movies and music will seem ob
scure. The only song with an
American theme is “Elvis Ate
America,” a song that offers a
unique view of the King of
Rock. The song is catchy, and
catchy songs are rare on this
collection. However, it can easi
ly get on listeners’ nerves.
“Miss Sarajevo,” which Bono
sings with Pavarotti, is the al
bum’s best song. Reminiscent of
past U2 slow songs, “Miss Sara
THURSDAY
Electric Gypsies
from Austin
500 bar drinks & $2.75 pitchers from 8-10 p.m.
FRIDAY
Logan Brothers
Ladies Night
500 bar drinks & $2.75 pitchers 8-10 p.m.
Saturday
A&M vs. Middle Tennessee
Doors open at noon - game starts at 1 p.m.
Ladies Night
500 bar drinks & $2.75 pitchers 8-10 p.m.
Uninvited Guest from Waco
with Soundtracks
jevo” has the most interesting
story behind it.
The film of the same name is
about a beauty pageant that
takes place in the middle of the
war-torn city while it is being
shelled. Bono sings, “Is there a
time to turn to liquor / Is there
time to be a beauty queen?”
Pavarotti’s voice is rich and en
joyable, offering proof that U2
is not looking to re-enter the
pop culture any time soon.
Most of the other music is
slow and unspectacular. Some
times a driving rhythm will ap
pear, but it rarely takes the
songs anywhere.
An exception is “Always For
ever Now,” which has music
that actually builds on itself
with a strong backbeat provid
ed by drummer Larry Mullen
Jr. But the song’s only lyrics —
which are the same three words
in the title — are dropped in to
dampen the mood.
For the most part, the
sounds collected on this album
belong in the background of a
dimly lit restaurant — they’re
almost too slow for good eleva
tor music.
Considering that U2 is get
ting around S100 million for
five albums (starting with
Zooropa), going under the
name. Passengers, was a wise
decision. This is not a U2 al
bum, and Island records proba
bly doesn’t want anyone to
think if is.
As background music,
Soundtracks hits the mark.
But as something produced
by members of U2, the album
stands to collect a lot of dust as
it sits on the shelf waiting to
be replaced by something of
substance by the band.
Hopefully soon.
WHO KILLED TOBY BOENIG?
COME FIND OUT WITH MSC NOVA AND MSC HOSPITALITY AT
Saturday, Nov. 18 7:00 p.m.
4th and 5 th floors of Rudder
Register in the MSC Main Hallway on
Nov. 1S-18 from 10~2
$3 per person/$5 per team of two
COME BE A SUPER SLEUTH AND FIND OUT WHODUNIT
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 845-1515
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your
special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior
to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities.