It will be a cardio fitness facility that will house treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes, among other machines, said DiBlasi, an international relations junior and resident mentor in the West Circle Neighborhood. DiBlasi also plans for the room to have a yoga area with yoga mats and a mounted TV.

To help fund the creation of this room, DiBlasi and Miller have received money from the five hall governments of the West Circle Neighborhood, and in March they plan to approach ASMSU to ask for a contribution.

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Use of the center would cost students $20-30 a semester.

DiBlasi and Miller, a natural resources recreation and tourism junior and resident mentor in the West Circle Neighborhood, have been working toward the cardio room’s creation since fall 2009.

The idea for a fitness center first came from West Circle residents, DiBlasi said.

“Students said their academic performance would improve, they would stay in West Circle (and) they would be more happy if they had one,” she said.

DiBlasi and Miller began meeting with university officials to explain their goals for the room and get their proposal approved. They received a lot of support and cooperation from the MSU community, DiBlasi said.

Journalism freshman Mackenzie Mohr is excited at the prospect of the West Circle Cardio Fitness Center being created.

“Especially because we don’t have any sort of community activity place — ­every other residence neighborhood has a fitness center,” she said.

The convenience of having a fitness facility in her residential complex is something Mohr is looking forward to.

“It’s very tempting to stay in your dorm when it gets dark at night and not want to go out to a fitness center,” Mohr said. “So for it to be right in your hall, you don’t have to put boots on, you don’t have to strap on your big winter coat, you can just walk down the hall.”

The two mentors also are creating a West Circle apparel line to support the fitness facility. T-shirts, sweatshirts, yoga pants, sweatpants, sports bras and gym shorts soon will be available for purchase.

Students have the opportunity to create a logo for this apparel in a contest being held by DiBlasi and Miller, who are taking submissions until 7 p.m. Sunday.

Mohr, who is entering a design she created, said student involvement in the creation of this fitness room is important.

“It’s a community effort, so to have the students, who are putting in all the effort to create the logo, fundraise and whatnot, I think it’s definitely crucial,” Mohr said.

As she plans to focus her major on visual communication, Mohr said she is excited for the opportunity to add the logo design experience to her portfolio. She said her design will include a circle surrounded by ivy and a saying promoting the neighborhood.

“I just thought about a few sayings and I came up with, ‘West Circle Fits Me,’” Mohr said. “I thought it was cute and simple and it also promotes staying in West Circle to live.”

Human biology sophomore and Landon Hall resident Danny Clugston likes the idea of West Circle residences producing apparel.

“It’s like the idea, ‘For us, by us,’” Clugston said. “We’re creating our own profits for our own benefit. It’s kind of cool to spark some creativity with students here.”