I think we have all heard of the freshmen 15, and as a woman, I wanted to conquer this weight before I gained it. This past summer after an astonishing $72 fee, I became a proud member of the Penn State Fitness Center. However, no longer can I honestly say that I am a proud member; instead I have an utter disgust for the gym facilities.

I am a true Penn State fan; I bleed blue and white, but I do not agree with the university's money-driven ideology. My friends at other schools gasped when they found out I paid for my college gym membership, let alone a pretty penny for it. Not only do they receive a free membership from their schools, but they also weren't subjected to long lines, crowded rooms and dirty mats. Everyday it is a gamble. Am I going to get in the gym today? Is there going to be a line around the corner?

After quite a few repetitive visits to the gym, in which I encountered a line wrapping around the hall, I decided I wanted to beat this crowd once and for all.

So Friday morning I brought myself to wake up at 8 a.m. and I went to the gym. I was proud of myself, confident that I had avoided the lines, but my newfound glory was quickly dismissed, for I was turned away from the Intramural Building at 8:30 a.m. because of gym classes. When I had originally thought of Penn State, I had an image of an athletic student body, a campus that promoted health and well-being. Now I think Penn State is hypocritical, for it exudes an air of athleticism on its campus, but in turn offers nothing for the average student body. Honestly, I do my abs in an old storage closet at the IM building.

I'm curious, where did my $72 go?