Written by Adrian Sharp
There are several places where students can work out around campus. The largest is Irving Gym, which features the latest in cardio and weight-lifting machines, as well as free weights, ab rollers, and other fitness devices. This gym is popular with Ball State's athletes. Another exercise facility is Ball Gym, a smaller, more intimate workout environment. There are fewer machines at this gym, but they are still the same quality as those at Irving. There also small gyms in LaFollette and Studebaker residence complexes.
Despite having some of the strictest rules of any pool on the planet, Lewellen Aquatic Center is a popular destination for students looking to go a few laps. The pool is open year-round. Poorly located and tastelessly decorated, the Student Center is a joke. Most students prefer to hang out at the Art and Journalism Building's food court, which is known as The Atrium. A sort of de facto student center, the Atrium houses a Starbucks, Sbarro, Chick-fil-A, a quasi-Chinese place called Asian Creations, and a sorry attempt at upscale dining known as The McKinley Grill (don't get the hamburgers there, trust me). The Atrium is well-lit, airy, and centrally located; a striking contrast to the Student Center's dismal, far-off, '80s-esque nightmare.