Aug 6, 2004 -- The Wilf Campus will soon unveil a state-of-the-art fitness center at its Max Stern Athletic Center. The center is scheduled to open August 29--the first day of Orientation 2004. A gift from Sy Syms, namesake of YU's undergraduate business school and founder of the Syms clothing stores, made possible the new fitness center and its commercial-grade, quality fitness equipment. The creation of the fitness center was a collaborative effort involving administrators, athletics staff, and, most of all, students. Joe Bednarsh, assistant director of athletics and physical education, said he chose a core group of eight YU students who represented beginner, intermediate, and advanced users of fitness equipment. The group is expected to reach 20. "We designed the fitness center to be exactly what the students want, so their input was paramount," Bednarsh said. The latest and most modern pieces of equipment, including treadmills that went on the market only last month, were delivered to the Max Stern Athletic Center on August 5. The new fitness area, which is approximately three times larger than the previous weight room, is located on the first floor of the Max Stern Center behind the lounge. In addition to the four treadmills, the new equipment includes four elliptical machines, four stationary bikes, and more than a dozen additional pieces of equipment to exercise arms, legs, and chest. A double-padded free-weight area features rubber-coated dumbbells. Eventually, a full-time specialized trainer will be on hand to assist students in the use of the equipment and ensure that all rules are followed.