You Won't Believe How Calvin University's $100,000 Gym Upgrade Left Students Divided!

Renovations at the Morren Fitness Center, a gym facility primarily for non-athlete students at Calvin University, have introduced new equipment and expanded space in response to the growing population of student athletes. Over the winter break, this project was made possible through more than $100,000 in private donations, as reported by James Timmer, the director of Calvin athletics. The initiative aimed to enhance the usage of what was deemed an underutilized space, thereby improving access to free weights for both athletes and the broader student body.

Calvin's athletic program has seen significant growth, with student athlete numbers rising from approximately 500 to 767 in the current year. “In order for them to get our team lifts in, we said, okay, that space is being underutilized,” noted Timmer. The renovations included replacing all bars and weights and increasing the number of squat racks from eight to 14. Timmer pointed out that the university had not updated its weight equipment significantly in 16 years, although cardio machines were replaced two years ago.

“Some of the things that they [the donors] asked for were more weights, new weights … and some rebranding in there. We’re accomplishing that,” Timmer said. Despite the upgrades, there are concerns among some students regarding the older equipment that remains in use. Frequent gym user Arnold Guikema expressed worries about the functionality of broken cable machines, stating, “Every square inch of my body is in danger when I use the broken cable.” He emphasized that, while the administration prioritized new squat racks, the student population frequently relies on cable machines, which continue to pose risks due to their disrepair.

“I never would have thought to myself, gee, what this place needs is more and better squat racks. That’s what’s really lacking,” Guikema added. “I don’t think that the squat racks are where the students were feeling the most impact from gym equipment … cable machines is where … the student population in general were having difficulties.”

Addressing Student Concerns

The Morren Fitness Center has long been a focal point for student advocacy, especially through initiatives by the Student Senate over the past two years. Previous reporting by Chimes indicates that the 2024-2025 Student Senate allocated $5,000 for improvements, while the 2025-2026 Senate focused on replacing attachments for cable machines, after learning that fixing the machines themselves would be too costly. Timmer maintained that the recent renovations align with the ideas advocated for by the Student Senate, focusing on more and newer weights.

One of the notable changes in the gym's operation involves a “trade-off” strategy by the athletic department. Certain sections of the Morren Fitness Center are closed during designated times for athletic team lifts. While Timmer clarified that equivalent equipment remains available in other parts of the facility, this separation has led to feelings of exclusion among some non-athlete students. Guikema likened the situation to walking into the Spoelhof Fieldhouse basement and observing restricted access to equipment designated for athletes. Now, with upgraded equipment being utilized primarily by athletes, non-athlete students feel sidelined.

However, some student-athletes appreciate the new arrangements. Lola Davies, a freshman track athlete, remarked that the separate space for athletes is essential because the gym lacks the capacity to accommodate multiple sports teams at once. “Being a student athlete here is a commitment and a cost … and so giving us a little bit of advantages in space … has been really beneficial,” she noted.

Looking ahead, Timmer mentioned further plans for the Morren Fitness Center, including painting the space in the university's colors of maroon and gold, as well as installing turf for dynamic exercises. As the university continues to grow its athletic program, the balance between meeting the needs of athletes and non-athletes will likely remain a focal point of discussion among students and administrators alike.