An Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and fitness facility collaboration to help students monitor the occupancy and wait times for on-campus gyms is still unknown to many students, despite rising numbers in athletic facility attendance.

The Web site -- www.psu.edu/dept/psustrength/ index_rec.html -- was activated in March 2005 and gives students the ability to monitor the congestion at gym facilities to better determine when and where to work out. It is updated every half hour. The initiative originated as a platform stance for USG President Galen Foulke and USG Vice President Luke Adams' 2005 campaign and evolved into the current Web site with help from Chip Harrison, head strength and conditioning coach, and other gym officials.

Adams said the Web site was used in their campaign as a "this is what we did for you guys" attempt to be re-elected.

Although there is no official count for how many hits the Web site gets, students using the gym facilities said they were unaware it existed. "I'd definitely use it if I knew," Scott Siegle (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said.

Samantha Schonfeld (sophomore-criminal justice) said she's waited up to 15 minutes for equipment in the White Building and didn't know of the Web site. "If I knew what time the gym would be less crowded, I'd definitely come then," she said.

Susan McConnell (sophomore-animal science) said she thinks the gyms are always more popular at this time of year because of the past holidays and upcoming vacations, but the crowds usually fade away.

Harrison said the gyms are always busy at the beginning of the semester, but spring semester always brings in more occupants because of New Year's resolutions and the proximity of spring break. "One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to lose weight or look better," he said.

USG Town Sen. Keith Crouse said the Web site was intended to keep students from wasting time or becoming annoyed at long lines.

"Sometimes seeing crowds discouraged them from lifting weights," he said.

Crouse said he uses the Web site most frequently at the beginning of the semester, and during this season, those who know about the Web site will use it more.

He said the Web site had minimal advertising, but USG and gym officials hoped students would see it while signing up for memberships online.

"You hope people check it," he said. "But you just don't know."

Harrison said that all gym users have the information available; the Web site is listed on all gym fliers and schedules. He added that the upcoming weather may influence gym occupancy, because more people will want to work out indoors, and the Web site can show students how crowded the gym is before leaving their rooms.