Staff Writer: Menachem Rabinowich
The weight room on the Malibu High School campus is an abomination. Located outside the older gym, it is exposed to the elements all year round. Over 45 kids use it daily, whether they work out for sports or are looking for an affordable way to get into shape. Almost every single sports team at the high school uses the weight room during their seasons. Over the years the weight room has begun to deteriorate. The tarp that is supposed to provide us with shade is falling apart from all the extra weight it must hold due to the bird feces that fall on it. The parts of the weight room that the tarp doesn’t cover has mountains of bird feces on the floor and when the rain comes down the toxins spread all over the gym. There is blood on the walls, the equipment and weights are entirely outdated and rusted, some even are on the verge of destruction and pose a danger to the students and staff who partake in weight lifting during and after school. The administration and athletic director has long been aware of this situation and continues to ignore this, considering all you have to do is walk by it and look for yourself.
The weight room has increased in popularity over time even as the condition of it hasn’t improved. This year the school added a personal trainer to the staff, and yet the weight room continues to deteriorate. The PTA and School board needs to fund a complete renovation of the weight room, including building a roof above the gym so kids can work out while it rains, or better yet, without anything falling down on them.
The weight room offers kids with an escape from a long day of studies and social interactions. Julian Tso, a sophomore at Malibu High School, who uses the weight room at least three to four times a week, says “he goes to the weight room to get stronger, and needs the high school weight room because he doesn’t have one at home and the other gyms in Malibu are overpriced”. Julian also stated “the high school weight room is extremely outdated and that he would like to see new modern equipment in the weight room.”
Claudia Lane, a 12th grader and two time National Girls Cross Country Champion, stated “she uses the weight room to get into shape and for a fun stress reliever.” “She dislikes that everything in the weight room is either rusted, dirty, or both.” Claudia is leaving next year, “she would like to see the school build a roof to cover the weight room so no rain can get in to avoid rust and unwanted dust and dirt to spread over the equipment.”
These are all extreme safety and health concerns that the school needs to deal with now. As a student and athlete, I use the high school weight room almost daily, so I took the liberty to create a petition and get students and teachers to sign asking for a new weight room. In just under a week over 400 students and teachers added their names, with more to come. Everyone who signed all agree that the weight room needs a complete makeover. We are requesting new, state of the art equipment. We deserve this, just like Santa Monica High School. We are also requesting the school build a roof, if the gym has to be located outdoors.
After reaching out to the district, Board of Education member Craig Foster assisted in Noemi Avila-Zamudio, the Deputy Bond Program Manager for Malibu , visiting the campus on Monday May 20, 2019. The students are hopeful that this visit will create responsive action. This gym is a health hazard to athletes.
Please visit the gofundme page for more information and to donate to the cause.
https://www.gofundme.com/malibu-high-weight-room We hope to raise $15,000, for a new weight room. We are asking the district to match this amount. That’s the least Malibu High School students deserve!
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