Ever since my freshman year at Rowan, I headed into the gym wearing cut shirts. Regardless of how you feel about these "muscle" shirts, which I probably shouldn't have been wearing at 165 pounds anyway, I had gotten called out every semester for it by staff members.

I soon learned of the dress policy enacted within the Rec and Fitness Center. I brushed it off, discussing with my friends how foolish I thought it was, but started to follow it, so I didn't have to borrow a shirt from the gym every time I went.

However, upon further contemplation, I do not see the real reason for any of these policies and view it as a complete and utter double standard.

To be clear, as per the words of a Rec Center employee, the policy is in place because of two main factors. First of all, not everyone wants to see a guy's nipples when he walks into the gym with a cut shirt on, which will be discussed later. Secondly, since some shirts have virtually no back, when laying on a bench, one will leave sweat and as a result become unsanitary.

However, if one really looks at the data, studies show that the greatest risks posed in the gym are not those of skin to bench contact, but actually cold and flu-like viruses. If you have ever been to a gym or ever exercised, you will know that one generally breathes a lot heavier and more often during exercise than they normally would in a stress-free environment.

Additionally, it is seen that people exercise the most during the Spring and Fall seasons when flu and colds are at their peak. These viruses are spread through breath and air, which leads them to be spread more easily in a relatively small weight room, where people are breathing more heavily and often.

There are also weirdos out there who blow their nose into their hands. I've seen it first hand and I can tell you that they go to the gym often. So, should we ask everyone to wear gloves when going to the gym? I think not. Studies show that it is estimated for every square centimeter of our hands to be containing up to or around 1,500 bacteria. Sure, you can wash your hands, but then you touch the door, touch your clothes, and touch the exercise equipment.

I am not saying that sweat doesn't transfer bacteria. It does, and it's been proven, but compared to everything else you can catch at the gym before even sitting on a sweaty bench, it isn't much.

The wet wipes are there for a reason! You can actually pick it up and… wipe down… the bench? Yes, it's possible, but does that mean everyone does it? Not a shot. This is something you will never be able to completely fix, but perhaps the policy should focus on making sure people wipe down their equipment and being made aware of all of the other ways to get sick, aside from just sitting on a sweaty bench.

Regardless, I and many others that go to the gym sweat on the exercise equipment through our clothes. Are we now to wear double layers?

The creators of this policy have another loaded gun in their arsenal. Apparently, people do not want to see men and women in small, cut shirts and pants when they go to the gym. Or, so the Rec Center says. I would be interested to do a study in order to see how regular attendees of Rowan's exercise facilities feel about cut clothing. Regardless, is it not anyone's right to wear what they want to the gym?

If it does not pose a significant health risk, I truly don't see a reason to regulate the clothing code in the gym. If one is walking down the street and sees someone wearing something that barely resembles a shirt, what will happen? You can not tell someone to wear decent attire in public because it is ultimately their choice unless they have their genitalia exposed.

So, why should the gym be any different? The only other gym I have ever attended with a similar policy is the dreaded Planet Fitness. The same place that has candy at the front desk, pizza Mondays, and no free weights past sixty-five pounds.

I would also like to bring to light the huge double standard that comes with the dress code policy at the Rec and Fitness Center. Never have I seen in my three years of going to the Rec, a staff member walk up to any girl at the gym, which is by the way about fifty percent of the gym population at Rowan, and tell her that the sports bra or compressed underwear she is wearing as an outfit is not decent attire.

I have literally seen girls walking around the gym with their butt popping out of their shorts, and not one word said. However, on countless occasions, I have seen employees come up to males and tell them to go change their shirt because it is cut too low or too thin.

The Rec and Fitness Center dress code policy is misguided by overdramatized health information, is a moral hindrance, and a complete double standard to the male gym going population.