The Student Recreation Center quietly introduced a women-only hour last summer for female students to work out in a more comfortable environment. From 3 to 4 p.m., the south weight room is off-limits to male students. Although males can still work out in the larger north weight room, the change has brought mixed reactions from students — especially males.
“We started it in the summer as a trial basis,” said Chantelle Russell, assistant director of fitness at the rec center. “We got a lot of feedback from women that they feel intimidated in those spaces, and so they chose not to work out in there. We’re hearing that a lot of people are changing their work and school schedules (around) that time period.” @@http://uorec.uoregon.edu/employ/employ_opps.html@@
According to Russell, the rec center has a history of being male-dominated, especially in the weight and strength training areas. A number of students came to her before the creation of the female-exclusive period to voice their concerns about feeling intimidated and harassed by the larger male population.
“My entire freshman year I stayed clear of the gym for fear of being judged, mainly by men,” University senior Cyd Dutcher said. “I wasn’t even that out of shape, but I shriveled at the thought of people watching me work out and judging my level of fitness. The (women’s) hour is essential for some women who feel insecure working out in the other weight room — which should basically be considered a 24-hour men-only room.” @@http://www.uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Cyd*Dutcher@@
The creation of the women-only hour has led to a largely positive reaction from both genders on campus, though a small number of students have raised concerns about being cut off from the south weight room for an hour during the afternoon and the legality of closing off part of a public facility to one gender.  The University Office of the General Counsel declined to comment on the issue, but Russell said that the rec center contacted General Counsel about the women-only hour. @@http://generalcounsel.uoregon.edu/@@
“We did follow up with them (the counsel) and that our efforts to increase female participation is lawful,” Russell said. “It does not violate Title IX .” Title IX is part of the Education Amendments of 1972 and states that no person shall be subject to discrimination in any education program or setting based on their gender. @@http://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/titleix.htm@@
Local lawyer Jennifer Middleton provided further context on the counsel’s decision. @@http://www.osbar.org/members/display.asp?b=071510@@
“The (University) might be providing the women’s-only hour in order to equalize women’s access to facilities in the context of a broader effort to maintain women’s participation in athletics,” Middleton said. “Provision of facilities access is one of (several) considerations in determining whether members of each sex have equal athletic opportunity.”
Female students were quick to respond to criticism of their designated weight-room hour, with nearly a dozen voicing concerns about the intimidation of working out in a room full of adult males.
“I have heard guys criticize a female who was learning the dead lift, stepping out of her comfort zone to try something new,” group fitness instructor Allee Lindahl said. @@http://www.uoregon.edu/findpeople/person/Allee*Lindahl@@
“I don’t think it’s the intention of men (to cause discomfort),” Russell said. “Just because it’s male-dominated, it (the rec) becomes more intimidating.”