SRSC patrons pumped by tunes

Junior Jonathan Garber works out three days a week at the Student Recreational Sports Center. His workout routine consists of cardiovascular exercise and strength training. But what he likes most is the background music playing while he works out in the weight room. The different genres parallel his workout. \n"I enjoy hearing dance and hip hop while running on the treadmill -- it really gets me going," Garber said. "I also love hearing more alternative rock music while I am benching or curling weight -- it really motivates me to push myself to the next level."\nJunior Amanda Stover, an SRSC employee who works at the help desk in the weight room, said there are guidelines for the music that is played, as it must correlate with the gym atmosphere.\n"We play music that stays away from a 'slow' tempo, and we also stay away from playing heavy metal." Stover said. "It's common to hear hip-hop, alternative and dance music being played while you are working out at the SRSC."\nStover said fitness enthusiasts will also experience a difference in music from the cardiovascular side to the weightlifting side of the SRSC. The predominately female cardiovascular side usually hears Eminem, Britany Spears and other hip-hop/dance artists. The predominately male weightlifting side usually hears artists such as 3 Doors Down, Chevelle and Hoobastank.\n"The girls like to hear hip-hop and dance, while the men like hearing more alternative rock," Stover said. "We try to base our music selection on what the men and women like to hear." \nStover also said music selection is based on student preferences, as the SRSC honors multiple music requests from students. \n"We allow students to choose the music they want to listen to while they are working out," Stover said. "We want students to enjoy the music they are listening to while they are working out at the SRSC."\nStover said besides student preferences and requests, the music is primarily chosen by the employees behind the help desk inside the weight room, depending on who is working.\n"Employee discretion varies from employee to employee," Stover said. "The people behind the help desk are in control."\nThe many people who frequently visit the SRSC believe having music played helps with their workout. Senior Amy Ruth, an SRSC employee who works at the equipment desk, said working out to music that makes your workout more intense can be key in the long run. \n"The music makes people more energized while they are working out." Ruth said. "The better the music selection, the more motivated people are to work out."\nIn addition, there is a vast difference in music played at the SRSC compared to the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation facility, as the HPER is equipped with only a large boom box. The SRSC, however, houses surround sound speakers and a radio tuner. The SRSC's atmosphere combined with the music makes working out more of a social activity, Ruth said.\n"The SRSC provides people with the ability to socialize with others." Ruth said. "At the HPER, people are more focused on their workouts rather than on conversation."\nGarber said he would like to see uniformity in the music selection at the SRSC. He would like to hear the same genres from the cardiovascular side to the weight lifting side.\n"When I'm warming up on the treadmill, I really get into the music," Garber said. "I don't like going from room to room hearing different types of music -- it needs to be the same."\n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.