Students hoping to dry off after their workout at the Ryerson Athletic Centre (RAC) may have to start bringing their own towels.
As of Oct. 31, the RAC will end towel service after their laundry equipment broke down early in the summer.
According to Anthony Seymour, the manager of recreation, brand new equipment would mean having to renovate the aging infrastructure of the laundry facility to bring it back up to building codes. Seymour said this would have cost anywhere between $400,000 to $600,000.
The RAC sent out an email last week telling students currently signed up for four-month towel service that it was ending. Before stopping their towel service, the RAC was transporting towels to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) to have them cleaned.
“But [this is] not a feasible long-term solution, especially with the [winter] weather,” Seymour said.
About 1,000 people are currently registered for towel service at both the RAC and MAC, according to Seymour, which costs $5 a month.
For RAC members who commute, like fourth-year electrical engineering student Francis Leong, the end of towel service means adding extra, unwanted weight to their bags.
“Since I commute, it is pretty hard to bring a towel all the way from home,” said Leong. “It will stink the whole day since it won’t have time to dry, and that will stink up my backpack.”
The email that was sent out offered three alternatives for members who had already paid for the four-month service: receive a refund for November and December, continue to use towel service only at the MAC or register at the RAC through a third-party provider at an additional charge of $15 to $20.
Seymour said that at least 100 students would have to register for the third-party service for it to be implemented. Members have until Oct. 15 to decide.
Copy editor and reporter at the Ryersonian.