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Weigh in: How Much Do You Like Your Gym Towel?

Enough to steal it? The CA’s towel problem made the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Here’s a little-known fact: The spends about $500,000 a year on towel-related expenses at its three fitness centers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

We're not saying you would steal your gym towel. At least not on purpose.

But a front-page Journal story Tuesday reported that gyms across the country, including those in Columbia, are experiencing towel theft problems.

The Columbia Association-run gyms are: , and .

The Columbia Association has tried to eliminate towels from its gyms twice, the Journal reported, but canceled the idea after member backlash.

Nicole McFarland April 25, 2012 at 02:22 pm
Save us money in CA fees and bring your own towel. How hard is it to pack one in your gym bag? Also, how much money could the CA save by not having to wash all those towels each week? Not to mention, there is less risk of coming in contact with germs if you bring your own.
H.R. Pufnstuf April 25, 2012 at 04:06 pm
Buy towels that are a really ugly color with even uglier stripes or polka dots. That way, no one will want to steal them.
Lisa Rossi (Editor) April 25, 2012 at 04:14 pm
Now there's an idea...... I vote puce.
H.R. Pufnstuf April 25, 2012 at 04:42 pm
For every towel that gets stolen, CA will donate $1 to the Republican Party. All towel theft would stop immediately.
Danna Walker (Editor) April 25, 2012 at 04:52 pm
Thanks for the chuckle!
BOH April 25, 2012 at 07:06 pm
I don't think most of these thefts are intentional. I actually walk out with a towel on accident every few times I'm there, although I usually try to remember to bring them back.
Lisa Rossi (Editor) April 25, 2012 at 07:37 pm
I just had a nice interview with Bob Bellamy, the CA's director of the sports and fitness division. We spoke extensively about towels. Stay tuned, a follow-up is coming....
Danna Walker (Editor) April 26, 2012 at 02:54 am
I once saw a patron yell at a gym employee for running out of towels. He was kind of annoying, basically replying to her complaint, "People use towels."
Ann Delacy April 26, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Since CA's towels are not exactly the highest quality, I find it hard to believe patrons are intentionally stealing them. I have walked out of the gym with a towel in my hands several times but quickly return them. Maybe this article will make people more aware of why the conversation of towels comes up annually at this time of the year.
Tom April 26, 2012 at 02:46 pm
I bring my own towel... simply because the towels supplied are barely large enough and from the CONSTANT washing and mandatory bleaching, degrade quickly. Not to mention, when I use my own towel, I KNOW who used it last.. just me. Yes, i have walked out with a towel before, but I have ALWAYS brought them back. But, people steal things out of lockers, so that just goes to show you.. people of all classes will steal anything that is not bolted down. Lose the towels... Lets get a juice bar / Sandwich bar going to replace the job loss of the "towel employees"

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