Summer Without the MAC

Students looking forward to running and lifting their way into shape this summer will not be doing so at the Malkin Athletic Center. Staffers at the athletic department have hinted that the MAC will be closed this summer due to budget cuts. The MAC is the primary undergraduate exercise facility, offering everything from treadmills and Stairmasters to salsa lessons and spinning classes. But, while it will be sad to lose these resources, this particular budget cut is understandable and will allow students to take advantage of ample other recreational opportunities in Cambridge.

Given the university’s fiscal shortfall, it needs to be constantly seeking ways to cut the budget while preserving vital programs. At a point when core academic facets such as faculty hiring are being sacrificed, it seems reasonable to limit features more tangential to the academic experience. Indoor athletic facilities during the summer certainly fit this description. The ready availability of Stairmasters and treadmills was undoubtedly not the first thing on students’ minds when they decided to come to Harvard. Their temporary loss may be lamented as an inconvenience, but it will not harm the caliber of their education.

Additionally, given that the city of Cambridge has plenty of other recreation options for students in the summer, the MAC seems like an appropriate place to cut. Cambridge has a host of public athletic facilities open for use around Harvard, boasting 84 public parks and playgrounds. These include basketball courts outside of Mather House, tennis courts outside of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, and softball fields in the Cambridge Common. With a little curiosity and investigation, students can find and take advantage of these opportunities.

Indeed, we hope that students here in the summer might use the closure of the MAC as an opportunity to go outside and see more of Cambridge and Boston. Summer is a rare, welcome gap of time in which exploration off familiar paths is possible. It seems a waste of this opportunity to seclude oneself in a building with other Harvard students during free time. During winter, students have no choice other than to batten down the hatches and stay indoors at all times. Summer is a season to be outside and now, perhaps, to become better acquainted with the Cambridge community. It may seem unimaginable to stay at Harvard without usual Harvard lifestyle resources, but it is possible and could lead to a more enlightening, enjoyable summer.