Many students find a clothing rule at the gym unfair. In recent weeks, a new sign telling students they cannot work out at the Stafford Fitness Center if they are shirtless or just wearing a sports bra was posted on the entrance.

Fitness Center Director Robin Durocher said the rule is in place to keep the gym clean by preventing sweat. 

“Sweat rusts the equipment and not everyone swipes off their machine for the next person,” she said. “The shirt also helps to prevent the spread of contact infections.” 

The MRSA virus has spread at other university gyms in the past because of shared use of equipment.

Durcoher said the rule has been in effect since she began work at St. Lawrence in 2003. Other colleges have similar policies. However, Durocher noticed the no shirt rule hasn’t been violated as much in the past as it has this semester. 

“You see it being enforced now because it is happening now,” she said. “The problem of female students coming to the Fitness Center without a shirt has increased since the start of this school year.” 

The shirt rule applies to the Fitness Center and training room, as well as the conditioning center for varsity athletes. Abby Croot ’22, a member of the Powerhouse, was shocked by the rule. 

“Last year they said it was a rule but it was never enforced, and to my knowledge there were never any complaints about it,” she said. 

Croot’s outfit of high waisted leggings and a sports bra caught the attention of a student worker at the desk. 

“She told me I needed to put on a shirt and that was my first and final warning,” Croot said. 

Jill Zick ’22, also a Powerhouse member, was upset as well by the no sports bras rule. “It kind of surprised me too because we are a liberal arts college and women’s rights are a big deal here,“ Zick said. 

“I don’t think you can limit someone’s self expression, especially in a public place like the gym on St. Lawrence’s campus, just due to people who may feel discomfort with it.”

Sarah Stewart ’21 was a little bit angry when she first saw the sign on the gym door. “I know it wasn’t aimed directly at me but I felt like it was,” she said. 

“We have men that are there wearing these huge muscles shirts with cuts in the sides and you can literally just see right through it. And yet no one has a problem with that.”

Stewart is also concerned with the fact that it is up to student workers to decide if an outfit fits the rule in a lot of situations. 

“Who gets to decide what is appropriate and what’s not and where do we draw the line there?” Stewart said. 

She gave an example of a friend who was asked to change while wearing a cropped tank top with a sports bra underneath by the desk worker.

Stewart said sports bras are made for working out in. “You can sweat through a shirt, just as easily as you can sweat through a sports bra,” she said. 

“The gym provides a cleaning solution and rags at basically every single piece of equipment. And if you’re following proper gym etiquette and wiping down equipment after you use it, then sweat really shouldn’t be a problem.”