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Steve Bradt
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Malkin Athletic Center to Upgrade Exercise Equipment
Cambridge, Mass. - March 11, 2008 - Seeking to improve health and recreation on campus, Michael D. Smith, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Bob Scalise, director of athletics and interim executive dean of FAS, announced today that funds have been made available to purchase new fitness equipment for the Malkin Athletic Center (MAC).
The new video-capable treadmills, elliptical machines, adaptive motion trainers, and stationary bicycles are scheduled for installation during the FAS spring break. In addition, satellite service will be installed at the MAC, enabling individual viewing con-trol for each piece of new cardiovascular equipment.
"In response to feedback from our community, we are further upgrading the MAC, a facility central to the physical well-being and emotional health of our students, faculty, and staff," said Smith, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science and Elec-trical Engineering. "Under Bob Scalise's leadership, the Department of Athletics has done exemplary work over the past several years to enhance Harvard's recreational fa-cilities and contribute to the health of our community."
The new equipment will complement recent renovations to the MAC completed in October 2007. These renovations corrected life-safety deficiencies, replaced and mod-ernized important building operating systems, and significantly improved the gymna-sium and locker areas.
The new equipment will place the amenities offered at the MAC on par with those at Hemenway Gymnasium. A 2005 renovation, conducted jointly with Harvard Law School, converted Hemenway into a fully modern 35,000-square-foot fitness center.
"I am grateful to President Faust, who saw the benefit in making these further improvements and who provided the financial support to make these additional changes possible," said Scalise. "The addition of this state-of-the-art exercise equipment at the MAC reaffirms the collective commitment by the Department of Athletics, FAS, and the University to support broad-based recreational activities for the entire Harvard community."
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