Stanford students and faculty may have an easier time finding space for exercise in Stanford’s gyms, as the access price for Stanford non-affiliates increased on Feb. 1. According to Rebecca Carpenter, Assistant Director of Rec Facilities and Operations for Stanford Athletics, this change was motivated by both increased facility offerings as well as a desire to create more capacity for Stanford affiliates.

Stanford Athletics considered recent changes that may have altered the value of a gym pass. According to Carpenter, the number of recreational facilities doubled in 2013. In addition, overcrowding by non-affiliates was encroaching on facility use by Stanford affiliates.

“Our hope would be that the increased fee will reduce the number of non-affiliate users, which does impact the access for [Stanford affiliates],” Carpenter said.        

As an example of the concerns about overcrowding, Carpenter mentioned issues surrounding basketball courts, where day-pass users made it difficult for members of the Stanford community to find space.

“[There have been] staff that come and say, ‘Hey, we can’t get any basketball courts. All these people are rec day-pass users, so why don’t we get priority?’” Carpenter said.

Despite these price changes, Stanford students have no need to be concerned, Carpenter affirmed. She noted that Stanford students and faculty are assured free access to recreational facilities, as guaranteed by University policy.

Looking ahead, officials are working to improve the energy efficiency of buildings used for recreational facilities. Improvements in progress include lighting sensors, water bottle filling stations, low flow urinals and more receptacles for recycling and composting.

Contact Skylar Cohen at skylarc ‘at’ stanford.edu.