Colorado Mesa University Montrose students will soon have a new opportunity for pursuing their physical fitness in the form of a new gym on campus. The gym has exercise balls, weights and cardio equipment.

According to Associated Student Government President Beau Flores, the gym is not open yet, but students will soon be able to use the facility. The gym is part of Flores’ ongoing efforts to represent all CMU campuses, and funding for the project was supported by the ASG Senate.

“There were many things that I was proud of in my first term as President. But what comes to mind is that the students of CMU Montrose will now have a place to exercise,” Flores said. “I ran my campaign on supporting the other CMU campuses and that’s what ASG 2019 has done.”

Previously, Montrose students had no place on campus to pursue fitness. They had to either drive to Grand Junction to use the main campus gym, or go to the Montrose Recreation Center.

ASG used to provide up to 30 recreation center passes each year, but the measure did not allow all students to exercise locally. Montrose has around 300 students, leaving approximately 90 percent of the student body without local gym access.

Since Montrose students pay the same student fees that main campus students pay, Flores and the 2019 ASG Senate wanted to give them fair treatment. In addition to providing a lounge area for students, money was allocated to the creation of an exercise facility.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this project, making it a reality for CMU Montrose Students,” Flores said. “And a special thanks to President Foster and Director Detwiler for seeing it through and keeping the students involved.”

Flores plans to continue finding ways to improve student life in Montrose and said he is working on other projects for the campus during his second term as student president.