An inside look to Farmingdale’s athletic facilities: What students need to know

By Keira McCabe 

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Students at Farmingdale State College have access to many different options within the athletic facilities at Nold Hall.The building is the primary athletic facility on campus where students, athletes, staff and faculty members can use.

 Aaliyah Taiwo, a sophomore who has worked at the front desk in Nold Hall for over a year shared information regarding the most used facilities, the challenges students can face and the accessibility of these facilities.

 According to Taiwo, the most commonly used facility used by both students and athletes is the open recreation gym. “They all come here to play basketball or just whatever together,” she said, referring to both students and athletes. The main recreation gym is a popular place for students looking to exercise, socialize and get practice done.

Nold Hall operates from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. However, there are specific rooms that operate different hours depending on team practices and events as well as school breaks. “During spring break, we were only open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., " Taiwo noted.

While most facilities are open to all students there is one exception: The Athlete gym. “All of the facilities in here are open to everybody except the athlete gym, that is specifically only for the athletes”, Taiwo clarified. 

When it comes to which teams use the facilities more often, Taiwo highlighted the basketball and soccer teams. “I commonly see basketball and soccer in there but sometimes they do team practices all together” she said.

For non-athletes, Taiwo emphasizes the accessibility of the free gym. “All you need is your ID and your RAM number to be able to use it,” she explained. 

Regarding any recent improvements, Taiwo mentioned privacy enhancements. “During the fall semester they started adding a bunch of blackout stickers so it could be a little bit more private”. Now students and athletes don't have to worry about the people passing by and looking in on them working out or practicing, to feel more comfortable.

Although the facilities are meant to be available and accessible some students have expressed frustration when it comes to scheduling. Taiwo states “The most complaints I get are usually about how unorganized the schedule is”. The practice times are posted for students, however Taiwo describes there is “Tiny, Tiny print”, that allows team practicesthat can occur at various times, which can result in students being unexpectedly asked to leave. 

Other than the workout or practice areas, Nold hall also has additional fitness options including Yoga, AMPtraining, and Boxing training.

Anyone that is looking to make the most out of their time in these facilities should schedule their visits early in the morning when most students are in class, and take into consideration the team's practices and schedule. “Come either really early like 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. when we first open or come at 12:00pm., because that is when everybody is in class” Taiwo pointed out. 

When asked about any changes within the facilities Taiwo mentioned that the gym previously had a $50 fee, each year. However, the facility recently dismissed that fee. Taiwo states,“When the gym became free there was an increase of students using the facility”.

The athletic facilities at Farmingdale State College are a great resource for students offering a wide array of facilities that encourage physical wellness, and form friendships along the way. If there are any recommendations or ideas for any updates or upgrades to Farmingdale State College facilities, visit the Aaliyah Taiwo at the front desk in Nold Hall on Farmingdale campus.