Richmond Hall is making a large — and rather weighty — donation to the YWCA of
Schenectady.
The residence hall is donating their Universal Gym — an all-in-one workout center that
had been sitting idle in the basement — to make room for a group study area.
While there are individual study spaces, there has been no place in the hall for
residents to study in larger groups, according to Kathy Walter, head resident assistant of
Richmond.
When the Hall Government consulted the Office of Residence Life to find a space for the
study lounge, the exercise room in the all-female dorm seemed the obvious choice, Walter
said. So, after some brainstorming and calling around, the Richmond residents decided to
remove the gym and donate it to the YWCA.
Elaine Troy, director of health promotion services of the YWCA, said the gym is a
“welcome addition” to the fitness room at the YWCA, which is open to women at
low membership dues and also to the 55 women who live at the Washington Avenue facility.
“We're obviously very interested in health,” Troy says, “and this donation
is most appreciated.”