Overall Collabrative Project- Peer Feedback

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UNC CharlotteSeptember 2 - September 17, 2013

IMPROVING ONES MIND, BODY, AND HEALTH

An overview of the makeup of a fitness center including the location, the people thatmake it up, and the things that are important to them.

The SAC FitnessCenter Comment [ds1]: Be sure to make your font inTimes New Roman


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Table of ContentsThe Figured World of Fitness ...................................... 1

Description of SAC Fitness ...................................... 1

Rules & Conventions ............................................... 3The People that Inhabit SAC ....................................... 4Meet a UNCC Fitness Member ................................ 4

"Sacred" Items & Objects ............................................ 5Communities in the Fitness Center ............................. 5

My Experience at SAC Fitness .................................... 6Observation Notes....................................................... 7


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1 | S A C F i t n e s s C e n t e r

The Figured World of FitnessFiguredwor ld: place driven by socialization and made up ofpeople that behave in a certain way in response to the "culture" ofthat world. In a figured world there can be many different types of"actors" or personalities, and the actors can often be grouped intocategories.

A student fitness center is a world where UNC Charlotte collegestudents, faculty, and staff, come independently or in groups toimprove their health. Many activities can occur here depending onthe equipment one decides to use. The fitness center is like a

painterscanvas with all the mediums one could possibly need, itis just up to the student to utilize these "mediums" to create whatthey desire.

By "create what they desire" I mean attain their goalswhether they are to lose weight, maintain a healthy lifestyle,strengthen their muscles to ultimately creating the body theywant. When you go to the gym, commonly I believe the ratio ofmen to women is unequal, men being higher in frequency,however

I do not think the gym is common to one type of person,but instead a gym is filled with many people with common goals.Goal commonality is what creates the discourse communities in a fitness center.

Description of SACFitnessAs you walk into theSAC Fitness Center, youimmediately come to a

check-in desk whereone or two employeesare stationed. This iswhere members givetheir student IDs ormembership cards to be"checked-in" to the gym.

Figure 1. Front Desk

Comment [ds2]: I like how you made you definitioneasy to understand for the reader.

Comment [ds3]: Painters canvas helps the readerunderstand what you are trying to say

Comment [ds4]: I like how you explain what createwhat they desire means

Comment [ds5]: You are right, but think about at ourfitness center, is it mostly college students?

Comment [ds6]: Add gym hours


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Overall, there are threemain divisions in the gymbased on equipment:cardiovascular equipment,strength machines, andfree weights.

The first section you enteris the Free WeightSection, which is dividedinto left and rightsubsections.

The left side includesmostly dumbbells andbenches, while the rightside includes benchpresses, squat racks, anda multipurpose rack.

Along each wall of thegym, except for the veryback wall are mirrors.These aid members inperforming the correctform during exercises.There is one waterfountain in the fitnesscenter, and two vending

machines with drinks.

The second section is thestrength machine section. This

includes machines such as theleg press, shoulder presshamstring curl. These machineswork to help members increasetheir muscular strength, andprovide more control to the

Figure 2. Left Side of Free Weight Section

Figure 3. Right Side of Free Weight Section

Figure 4. Strength Machine Section

Comment [ds7]: The pictures are helpful tools

Comment [ds8]: Your description is veryelaborate which helps the reader envision the actuallocation


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performer. They are located in a line after the free weight section.

The third and finalsection is theCardiovascularEquipment section,which includes

treadmills, ellipticalmachines, bikes, androwing machines. Thissection is located in theback of the gym, farthestaway from the entrance(front desk).

Rules & ConventionsRules unique to SAC Fitness Center are that you must be amember of UNC Charlotte in order to join. Otherwise you must bea friend or family member of a UNCC member. Also, you mustwear a shirt that has sleeves.

In many public places, sweating profusely, poor odor, loud music,and loud grunting are actions that are unacceptable and out of thenorm. However, in a fitness center, these behaviors areaccepted. Intolerable actions in a gym would be disrespectingothers, not cleaning equipment after use, wearing inappropriateattire, and improper use of equipment. Inappropriate attire wouldbe sleeveless tops, skirts, dress pants, shoes that are not closetoed, or large jewelry.

In a fitness center, there is a certain type of "work-out etiquette"and "work-out respect." "Work-out etiquette" is being responsibleand respectful of other students in the gym. For example, washingdown equipment after you use it, asking to see if someone isfinished with a piece of equipment before you use it, askingsomeone for help if you do not know how to use certain

Figure 5. Cardiovascular Equipment Section

Comment [ds9]: Describe what inappropriate attire is


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equipment. "Work-out respect" is admiring others in the gym forsomething they perform that you find to be profound. In gyms,there is a certain feeling of wanting others to do well around you.However, there is also competition present in a gym with thephilosophy of trying to "out do" a peer with the goal of improvingyourself.

Communication in a gym is predominately encouraging ormotivating others, asking for help or guidance in performing anexercise, communicating to staff issues or questions.Socialization would be meeting fellow members, or running intofriends and talking while at the gym.

The People that Inhabit SAC FitnessActors: a person, or member of the figured world, that takes on acertain role and acts accordingly based on their surroundings.

Staff Members: Responsible for verifying that the peoplecoming into the SAC Fitness Center are legitimatemembers. Duties involve assisting members who needhelp, cleaning equipment, providing towels and t-shirts forthose who need them, and making sure all members arefollowing the rules.

Student Members: These are active students at UNCCthat come to the gym to be physically active. Their level offocus and level of experience varies per student.

Faculty and Staff Members: These are professors andother staff on UNCC Campus that come to the fitnesscenter to work out.

Guest Members: These are people that are friend or

family to a UNCC Fitness Member. They have a desire toaccompany their friend/family member to the gym. Theymust pay $5 to get a guest pass that will last them 1 day.

Meet a UNCC Fitness MemberClick on link below! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolz

Comment [ds10]: Revise this a little, think abouthow actors have roles in the world

Comment [ds11]: Maybe interview a staffmember as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolzhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxUqCrS4js&list=HL1378931654&feature=mh_lolz


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"Sacred" Items & ObjectsArt i facts:an item or idea that "actors" value with high importancethat drives their behavior, knowledge, confidence, and emotions

Water bottles: Water is an imperative to one's ability toworkout. Many members of the fitness center either bring

water bottles, water jugs, or plastic water bottles to fill atthe water station, or use the water fountain. They use thewater to stay hydrated

Headphones and music playing device: Membersseem to listen to music as they workout for variouspurposes. Music helps fitness center members to becomemore motivated by pumping them up helping themachieve a better workout. Others use the music to maketheir workout more enjoyable. Examples of these deviceswould be an iPod or a cell phone.

Towel: Members seem to use these towels as a tool toget rid of sweat from their face, eyes, and other parts of

the body. This is important to equipment use to makesure hands do not slip, and also is a convenient serviceoffered by SAC Fitness Center.

Sanitation wipes: No one enjoys using a piece ofequipment that contains bodily fluids on it. Not only is thisa danger to ones health, but it also is just plain rightdisgusting. Thus, sanitation wipes are absolutelyimperative to the functionality of a gym. If someone doesnot wipe down their equipment, they are creating ahazard to other members and may cause someone tostop working out, and in turn disturb the flow of the gym.

Communities in the Fitness CenterDiscourse

communi t ies : a group of people that share commonways of thinking, doing, and communicating.

Comment [ds12]: If you find anymore STAND OUTartifacts, add them, ex. Sanitation wipes

Comment [ds13]: Be sure to define


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(1) Employees and Staff of SAC Fitness Center: Thiscommunity is made up of students that work at SAC Fitness. Theyshare the responsibilities ofserving gym members as wellas keeping the gym clean andsafe. They know eachotherand constantly interact witheachother because they areco-workers. Furthermore, theyshare a great knowledge offitness.

(2) Adult Members: These are older members who have adifferent level of fitness than most student members. One wouldsay they have a fitness level lower than most student members.

(3) Student Members: This community makes of the majority ofall members at the Fitness Center. Most of them are younger andhave a high potential level of fitness.Many of them are friends

outside of the gym and respect their peers inside of the gym.

(4) Members going to fitness center to maintain fitness &health: Of all members, these members are at a fitness level theyare happy with. They go to the gym to continue maintaining thislevel of fitness.

(5) Members going to fitness center to get into better shape:These members are at a fitness level they are not necessarilyhappy with.They are going to the gym to improve themselves.Fitness levels vary at this point. Some members may be very fitand are striving to reach higher goals, while others may be unfit

but are trying to work hard to improve themselves. Either way, thisgroup is characterized by determination.

(6) Members going to fitness center as a social event: Somemembers go to the gym to talk and interact with others. Whileworking out is important to them, they treat their time at the gymas an opportunity to socialize with others.

Comment [ds14]: Good idea to divide bypersonal goals


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My Experience at SACAs a fitness member at UNCC SAC Fitness Center, Ihave had a very enjoyable experience. I usuallyalways go to the gym with one of my friends (girl or guy) and usethem as a work out partner. I find this helps motivate me to goand to work out harder when I am at the Fitness Center. I

occasionally run into friends at the SAC Fitness Center, but Iwouldn't call my trips to the gym a "social event." I would putmyself in the discourse community of working out to lose weightand get into shape. Sacred items to me are definitely a water

bottle and sometimes a musicplaying device.

Observation NotesOBSERVATION 1 - EVENING

Wednesday, September 4,2013

7:20pm - 7:50pm

7:20 - The fitness center is notpacked. One male employeesits at check-in desk andscans people in by taking their49er ID. He is talking to one ofthe fitness class instructors(blonde-haired, fit woman). Heseems to be an older studentwith tan skin and darker hair.His uniform is a green poloshirt.

When a visitor walks in, there is a white board (see Figure 6.) thatgives the gym hours and says, "If you're not sleevin, you'releavin!!!'" This slogan is an attempt to communicate, and reinforcethe rule that everyone that works out in the gym must be wearinga sleeved shirt. Several groups of 2+ boys are lifting together. Afew boys are lifting independently. Two boys working out

Figure 6. Whiteboard


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independently are sharing the same rack. Every girl is on a cardiomachine or doing exercises on the floor.

7:23 - Two girls go to the squat rack and begin a series of squats.These are the only girls doing free weights. They seem to betaking their workout seriously.

7:31 A social interactions occurs between a boy and group ofboys. They appear to be friends that just noticed each other at thegym. A second employee arrives and sits at the check-in deskwith male employee. She appears to be a female student withblonde hair.

7:35 - Gym becomes more packed to the point that every cardiomachine is being used. All females are on cardio machinesexcept for one male. Cardio machines include: treadmills,elliptical, row machines, stair climbers, stair steppers, andstationary bikes. Within a 5-minute period, several males weighthemselves on the scale, which is located in the corner of gym.

7:40 - Girls enter they fitness center in a group of 2 and head tocardio area. A male then enters the center independently. Themale puts his belongings down in a cubicle and begins to do legexercises on weight machine.

7:45 - One female works out with several males in the free weightsection. She seems to be with a group of friends and they aresocializing with each other as they work out. Males are teachingfemales different exercises using the weights.

7:50 - Gym is still consistently packed. No UNCC faculty and staffare working out; only people exercising appear to be students.

Observation 1 Summary: Patterns that I seemed to notice werethat females dominantly occupied cardio machines while malesdominated free weight and weight machines. I also noticed thatwhen a student exercised independently it was typically a male.Females seemed to come in pairs or groups of 3. Males tended to


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work collaboratively when they were using the bench press. WhenI observed people weighing themselves, I did not see any femalesuse the scale, only males. Males tended to workout with malesand females tended to workout with females. The employeesseemed relatively stagnant and just checked people in. I didn'tnotice them going to help people, or asking if others neededassistance.

OBSERVATION 2 - LATE NIGHTSaturday, September 7, 2013

10:20pm - 10:50pm

10:20 - The fitness center is "deserted" in a sense as only 10-15

people are working out. Only one male employee is on duty andhe sits at check-in desk and scans people in. Upbeat music isplaying around fitness center.

10:22 - Only 2 girls are in the gym at the time. Both are workingout with a male partner. In the first pair, the male is instructing thefemale how to do different exercises. Seems to be a social eventin a sense. The second pair seems to be working outindependently while "spotting" each other. Spotting is standingnear the person doing the exercises being ready to assist them ifthey cannot handle the amount of weight they are using. Bothpairs of members are located in the free weight section.

10:29 - Two males are working out together. They seem to betaking turns on different strength machines. All others except for"male-female duos" are working out independently. All membersseem to be focused. Several members are listening to music oniPods.


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10:35 - Older student male walks in with what seems to be hisyounger brother (middle/high school). They walk over to thebench press and the older brother begins to teach the little brotherhow to lift properly and takes him through a set of exercises.

10:37 - One male member approaches the front desk and asksfor a towel. Employee hands him a small gray towel and the

fitness member uses the towel to wipe sweat from his face andneck.

10:41 - One male using the squat rack looks in the mirror as if heis analyzing his form. As he goes to squat for a second time, hereadjusts his back sticking his hips out farther. He seems to betrying to perfect his form.

10:50 - Gym is very empty. Only about 7 members remain.

Observation 2 Summary: Overall, the gym seems to be much

less packed on a Saturday night. Maybe this is due to socialevents going on and commuting students not having to be oncampus. With less people in the fitness center, there seems to beless communication between fitness center members. Those whoare at the gym seem very focused and were in either very goodshape or working out diligently in an effort to get into shape. Thefree weight section of the gym was the section most frequentlyused. There was only one staff member on duty.


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OBSERVATION 3 - MORNING OBSERVATIONTuesday, September 9, 2013

6:10am - 6:40am

6:10 - Not very many people are in the gym yet (10-15 people).Some adults are working out. These adults could possibly beUNCC faculty and staff or family members of staff. Most peopleare using strength machines. One staff member is on duty and iswalking around being sure that everything is set up for the day.

6:12 - Staff member returns back to front desk and stays on dutyto check fitness members in.

6:20 - Gym seems to be filled with mostly female students andtwo adults. The members main focus still seems to be on cardiomachines, and strength machines. There is rarely anyone in thefree weight section of the gym. All members are working outindependently.

6:30: More members are in the gym now. Not as packed as the"Observation 1: Evening", but is getting there. More males havearrived now. Ratio of males to females is pretty equivalent now.


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6:33 -A line builds up at the water fountain as several students fillup water and take sips at the fountain. Most people are stillworking out independently except for a pair of girls who are nextto each other on an elliptical.

6:37 - Several fitness members grab a mat, which is hanging onthe left most wall, and begin doing abdominal exercises on the

gym floor. They do this independently. After they finish with theirmats they take a sanitation wipe and wipe down their mats beforehanging them back up. This sanitation routine seems common forall equipment that fitness members use.

6:40 The gym is getting more packed as time goes on. There isstill one employee. More pairs of fitness members walk in. Whilecardio machines seem to be dominated in use, several peopleuse the free weight section.

Observation 3 Summary: It seems that in the early mornings,some adults work out at the SAC fitness center. Maybe this isbecause they come before the classes they have to teach beginor before their work shift begins. Oddly, more females seemed tobe in the fitness center, and cardio machines seemed to be themost popular machine used. I noticed the etiquette of memberscleaning the equipment after they were done using it. There wasvery little communication or socialization. Most members seemedto be working out independently and were focused.


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