FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who can use the Israel Center?
All currently enrolled students are invited to use the facility free of charge. Faculty, staff, alumni, student spouses, and designated friends of the University must pay either a seasonal or an annual gymnasium fee to work out in the center. Students and gym members may also bring guests to the facility for a nominal daily fee.

2. When is the Center open?
During the academic term, the Israel Center is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday (99 hours, weekly). During the summer term the Center's hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the week-ends (83 hours, weekly.

Payne Whitney Gymnasium typically will close for 4 days during Thanksgiving recess, and for an extended number of days in December -- January for winter recess. In addition, the gym will close for approximately 1 week in May and again for 1 week in August. Please check the web- link to PWG for the specific dates of these annual shut-down periods.

3. What are the busiest times?
During the academic year the fitness center is very crowded from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., when students are typically not in class. During the summer, the peak hours of use are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

4. Can I bring a friend to the center with me?
Yes. Gym members may sponsor guests by purchasing a gym pass either at the membership office in the gymnasium lobby or at the front check-in desk. A guest pass is currently $5 and standard guest pass policies apply to using the fitness center. Please check the PWG web-link for details.

5. Can someone show me how to use the equipment?
At the start of each academic term several orientation sessions are scheduled to acquaint people with the cardiovascular and weight training equipment. The sessions are approximately 45 minutes long.

Also, during the academic year the physical education program offers some 5 week weight training classes. These classes, which meet once per week and cost $20, provide more in-depth information on how to begin a strength training program. Advance registration is suggested; please call 432-1431 for enrollment details.

The Israel Center also has an approved list of certified personal trainers, who are available to train clients for an agreed upon fee. Please check the bulletin board in the fitness center for information concerning personal trainers.

6. Where can I change into workout clothes to use the fitness center?
Personal lockers in the gym are available for a modest fee. Please check for details in the gymnasium's membership office, located in the main lobby.

7. What do the flags and banners in the center represent?
The banners in the weight training area of the room represent the 12 undergraduate residential colleges of Yale University. The banners in the cardiovascular section (middle section) of the facility are for each of Yale's graduate and professional schools. In the former group, Calhoun, Davenport, Morse, and Stiles Colleges are among those represented. The latter group includes nursing, medicine, law, forestry, and architecture, and several others.

8. Who decides what music is played in the room and what stations are on the TV monitors?
The Israel Center receives approximately 65 television stations via Direct-TV, a satellite company. The system allows us to provide up to 3 different television stations in the room at any time. Usually the t.v.'s are tuned to CNN News and ESPN Sports. If you would like to watch a particular channel, please ask the attendant on duty and they will accommodate you.

Similarly, we subscribe to a commercial free satellite music service that offers more than 30 types of music. The attendant on duty selects the music to be played. Not everyone likes the same kind of music, so we occasionally receive feedback about the music. When asked, the attendant on duty will change stations for you or lower audio volume of the music.

9. How can I get a job in the Fitness Center?
Students often express an interest in working at the Israel Center. Persons interested in working there should call 432-1431 or email Larry Matthews at larry.matthews@yale.edu.

10. I left my sweatshirt in the center yesterday. How can I get it back?
The fitness center maintains a lost & found system at its check-in desk. Items such as books, water bottles, and articles of clothing are placed on the window ledge across from the desk. These items are claimed on the honor system. Smaller items such as rings or other pieces of jewelry that are found are hung from the bulletin board behind the check-in desk. Other items such as cell phones, I-pods, shufflers, palm pilots, etc. are brought to office 103 in Ray Tompkins House for safe keeping AND a notice that the article was found is placed on the LOST/FOUND board at the check-in desk. To inquire about an item possibly lost in the Israel Center please call 432-1431.