Come August, health-crazed students will discover a new line of exercise equipment at the Student Recreation Center.

According to the Assistant Director of Fitness, Becky Lewis, the old line of Body Masters selectorized equipment, aimed at working on specific groups of muscles, was replaced in May. Previously found in the Cardio Room, the old machines had been in use since the new Rec Center addition was opened in 1995.

The old equipment had not become defective, but according to Lewis, it was outdated. The 21 new pieces of the equipment offer what the old machines offered, but OCR officials say they offer more options.

“The new equipment replaced the old almost item for item with upgraded features and style,” Lewis said.

With the installation of the new machines, the old equipment was traded out to the company from whom NIU purchased the new machines, which Lewis said is a fairly common practice.

“This is a process that many fitness centers use to help defray the cost of the new equipment,” Lewis said.

Had the old machines not been traded, they likely would have ended up in the university’s inventory control system.

Lewis didn’t comment on how much the whole transaction cost the university, but did say the funding came in the form of bond revenue money. Lewis also noted this is how the Rec purchases most of its big-ticket equipment items.