Baruch College used to have saunas in the main locker rooms of the Newman Vertical Campus building. However, in fall 2019, they were suspiciously locked. Baruch should open the saunas again for students or inform the student body about how it plans to use the space. 

The Ticker previously reported that the sauna in the girls’ locker room, located on the first floor of the Athletic Recreation Center, is closed indefinitely, according to staff members who work in the fitness center and the athletics department. 

There were no announcements or flyers by the door announcing this change, leading to questions regarding the reason for these closures. The athletics department should have notified students and staff of the change and provided reasoning. 

The saunas were a unique feature of the school that many students can no longer enjoy. A sauna would have been a great addition to the locker rooms and improve student athletes’ lives on campus. 

Saunas are beneficial for athletes to recover after enduring workouts and practices. Research at the University of South Australia found that sauna exposure following exercise, for both elite and everyday athletes, is associated with better performance. Baruch athletes would greatly benefit from getting the saunas back. 

Undergraduate students currently attending Baruch are most likely unaware that the school used to have saunas, given how long they’ve been out of use. Many students have speculated as to why the saunas have been taken out of service, but nothing has been confirmed by the athletics department. 

The most recent announcement about the saunas being closed is on Baruch’s Athletic & Recreation Complex recreation application which offers membership packages for staff, faculty, Baruch alumni and community members. The application simply reads, “Please note the sauna is permanently closed.” 

Given that space is limited on campus, Baruch should also have let the community know what it plans to do with the saunas that are currently still taking up space in the locker rooms if it does not plan to bring them back. 

The ARC is currently undergoing renovations to the B3 pool and adjoining locker rooms, which closed on Feb. 26 and will remain closed for the next 18 to 24 months. The ARC published an announcement of the pool closure on its website. 

If the saunas are a part of the current pool renovations, the community should know about it; if not, a similar announcement should be released regarding the saunas and Baruch’s plans.