The Dodge Fitness Center will reopen its facilities to a limited capacity of undergraduate students starting today, January 26.

Dodge Fitness Center will be reopening in a limited capacity starting Tuesday, January 26, according to an email sent this morning to some students from Columbia Athletics. The email was sent to students currently living on campus, in part due to anticipated local interest in the announcement, according to a corroborated, verifiable source. The full text of the email from Columbia Athletics is provided below.

As part of its phased reopening, Dodge will now be implementing precautions in order to ensure the health of all students visiting the gym. Many factors were involved to make the final decision of re-opening the Columbia Facility, according to Bwog’s corroborated, verifiable source, as student, faculty, and staff preferences were allegedly taken into consideration. Access to the Dodge Fitness Center will be open by appointment only, with a maximum occupancy of 320 people per day. Reservations will be made for up to sixty minutes of time in a designated “exercise pod,” located in specific fitness areas. Students will be able to reserve an “exercise pod” up to 72 hours in advance.

Requirements for entry include signing the University Health Compact, completion of the COVID-19 Safety Training, COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and the ReopenCU app daily symptom attestation. Upon arrival at Dodge, visitors to the gym must present proof of completing these documents, as well as their CUID. Locker rooms will only be open for bathroom access, so students are advised to change into workout attire before arriving. Masks, social distancing, and the use of hand sanitizer are required in order to use the facilities.

In addition to these procedures, Columbia Athletics mandates thoroughly disinfecting equipment before and after use, remaining in one’s assigned exercise pod for the duration of the visit, and strict compliance with directional signage and indicators. For instance, stairways will now be exclusively for up or down use.

Columbia Athletics states that they will be monitoring the situation closely and will reevaluate their health and safety procedures as more community members have access to the facility.

Barnard College later released a statement last night at 7:52 pm in response to the Dodge re-opening announcement. The email re-emphasized the importance of following regulations set forth by Columbia Athletics and reiterated the new procedures for visiting the gym. Most importantly, the email states that the Barnard Fitness Center will not reopen alongside the Dodge Fitness Center. Instead, it will continue its Virtual Fitness Programs through the Fitbear Programming. The full text of the email is provided below.

Email from Columbia Athletics, Monday, January 25:

Columbia Undergraduate Students:

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 we will begin a limited reopening of the Dodge Fitness Center for the use of registered undergraduate Columbia students. As we begin a phased reopening the Dodge Fitness Center (DFC) to the university community, we are taking steps to make sure to provide a safe and healthy experience for all of our members, students, faculty, staff and employees. As a result, the number of available slots for undergraduates will be no more than 320 per day. We will continue to monitor and re-evaluate use based on several health and safety factors as we work toward inviting more of our campus community to utilize our athletics facilities.

We have taken significant steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our patrons and staff, and developed a list of protocols which will be followed and enforced when we reopen. These protocols include the use of the ReopenCU app for health attestation, strict limitations on building capacity, the requirement of face coverings when in Dodge, and timed/reserved appointments for fitness activity.

In order for us to be able to operate as continuously as possible and prevent any outbreak and/or transmission of the virus, we ask for everyone’s assistance in following all guidelines and protocols. Below is additional information related to our reopening, including a link to our fitness reservation website and Frequently Asked Questions.

Dodge Fitness Center Spring term rules and regulations

Time-specific reservations are being accepted for “exercise pods” within specific fitness areas. All members of the community seeking to work out in DFC must make a reservation here prior to visiting the fitness center. You must retain your reservation receipt in order to enter the DFC on the date of your reservation.

To ensure that we are able to continue operating in the safest manner possible, we must insist that all patrons of Dodge Fitness Center abide by the following protocols and recommendations:

Before arriving to the Dodge Fitness Center

1. Read and sign the University Health Compact
2. Take the COVID-19 Safety Training
3. Complete your required COVID-19 diagnostic tests
4. Complete the daily symptom attestation on the ReopenCU app
5. Reserve an exercise pod for up to a 60 minute workout through this website. Pods are reserved up to 72 hours in advance for a specific day and time. Columbia University UNI and Password are required for pod reservations.
6. Change into your workout attire. Locker rooms will not be available for storage or change of clothing; Locker rooms will only be available for bathroom use.
7. We encourage all patrons to fill and bring a personal water bottle. Bottle fill stations will be operable in DFC to use.

While at the Dodge Fitness Center

1. At the front desk, all patrons must present their CUID, approved ReopenCU status, and exercise pod reservation receipt.
2. For the safety of our staff and your fellow patrons, wear an approved face covering/fabric mask at ALL TIMES; unapproved face coverings include bandanas, gaiters, buffs and plastic face shields. For more information about appropriate face coverings, visit: HERE
3. Maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others
4. Utilize hand sanitizer stations located through the facility before and after touching surfaces
5. Abide by all posted regulations and directional signage; Stairwells will be reserved to travel in only one direction – up OR down; please do not travel up the down staircase.
6. Remain in your assigned pod throughout the duration of your reservation
7. Disinfect equipment before and after use
8. At the end of your reservation deposit your used cleaning towel in the bin near the area monitor station, check out with the monitor, and proceed to the exit

All members are expected to exit the facility at the end of their reservation, no loitering in the facility will be permitted; failure to abide by the above protocols may result in the loss of fitness facility privileges in the future.

After leaving the Dodge Fitness Center

1. Follow proper personal hygiene procedures as itemized in the University Health Compact
2. Disinfect and launder any clothing/clean any personal items that were brought into the facility
3. Stretch and hydrate!

Email from Barnard College, Monday, January 25:

Dear Students:  

On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Columbia will begin a limited reopening of the Dodge Fitness Center for the use of enrolled undergraduate Columbia and Barnard undergraduate students. As they begin a phased reopening of the Dodge Fitness Center (DFC) to the university community, Columbia is taking steps to make sure to provide a safe and healthy experience for all members, students, faculty, staff and employees. As a result, the number of available slots for undergraduates will be no more than 320 per day. They will continue to monitor and re-evaluate use based on several health and safety factors as they work toward inviting more of the campus community to utilize their athletics facilities.   

Columbia has taken significant steps to ensure the safety and well-being of patrons and staff, and developed a list of protocols which will be followed and enforced when they reopen. These protocols include the use of the ReopenCU app for health attestation, strict limitations on building capacity, the requirement of face coverings when in Dodge, and timed/reserved appointments for fitness activity.

In order for Columbia to be able to operate as continuously as possible and prevent any outbreak and/or transmission of the virus, they ask for everyone’s assistance in following all guidelines and protocols. Below is additional information related to the Dodge reopening, including a link to the fitness reservation website and Frequently Asked Questions.  

Dodge Fitness Center Spring term rules and regulations

Time-specific reservations are being accepted for “exercise pods” within specific fitness areas. All members of the community seeking to work out in DFC must make a reservation here prior to visiting the fitness center. You must retain your reservation receipt in order to enter the DFC on the date of your reservation.

To ensure that we are able to continue operating in the safest manner possible, Columbia must insist that all patrons of Dodge Fitness Center abide by the following protocols and recommendations:

Before arriving to the Dodge Fitness Center

1. Read and sign the University Health Compact. (This is different from Barnard’s pledge. You will find Columbia’s on the ReopenCU app).
2. Take the COVID-19 Safety Training (Also located on the ReopenCU app. Different from Barnard’s training).
3. Complete your required COVID-19 tests. Barnard students must be in Barnard’s testing program and in compliance with Barnard’s twice weekly testing expectation for students.
4. Complete the daily symptom attestation on the ReopenCU app.
5. Reserve an exercise pod for up to a 60 minute workout through this website. Pods are reserved up to 72 hours in advance for a specific day and time. Columbia University UNI and Password are required for pod reservations.
6. Change into your workout attire. Locker rooms will not be available for storage or change of clothing; Locker rooms will only be available for bathroom use.
7. Columbia encourages all patrons to fill and bring a personal water bottle. Bottle fill stations will be operable in DFC to use.

While at the Dodge Fitness Center

1. At the front desk, all patrons must present their CUID, approved ReopenCU status, and exercise pod reservation receipt.
2. For the safety of staff and your fellow patrons, wear an approved face covering/fabric mask at ALL TIMES; unapproved face coverings include bandanas, gaiters, buffs and plastic face shields. For more information about appropriate face coverings, visit here.
3. Maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others.
4. Utilize hand sanitizer stations located through the facility before and after touching surfaces.
5. Abide by all posted regulations and directional signage; Stairwells will be reserved to travel in only one direction – up OR down; please do not travel up the down staircase.
6. Remain in your assigned pod throughout the duration of your reservation.
7. Disinfect equipment before and after use.
8. At the end of your reservation deposit your used cleaning towel in the bin near the area monitor station, check out with the monitor, and proceed to the exit.
9. All members are expected to exit the facility at the end of their reservation, no loitering in the facility will be permitted; failure to abide by the above protocols may result in the loss of fitness facility privileges in the future.

 After leaving the Dodge Fitness Center

1. Follow proper personal hygiene procedures as itemized in the University Health Compact.
2. Disinfect and launder any clothing/clean any personal items that were brought into the facility.
3. Stretch and hydrate!

At this time the Barnard Fitness Center remains closed but we continue to offer Virtual Fitness Programs in collaboration with Columbia through Fitbear Programming.

Wishing you a great week,

Dean Grinage

Image via Columbia Athletics