USC Bans Men from Gym to Make Women More Comfortable

Non-binary students also excluded from certain gym hours, raising questions about enforcement.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:11pm

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration featuring a grid of weight racks in bright neon colors, conceptually representing the debate over gym access and inclusivity at the University of Southern California.A bold, artistic interpretation of the contested gym space at USC, where new policies aim to make certain areas more comfortable for women and non-binary students.Los Angeles Today

The University of Southern California has implemented new gym policies that ban men from using certain areas of the Lyon Center recreational facility on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The policy, pushed by the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE), is intended to make women and non-binary students feel more comfortable working out. However, the policy has faced criticism for being ambiguous and potentially unenforceable.

Why it matters

The new gym policy at USC highlights ongoing debates around gender equity, inclusivity, and the balance between accommodating different groups' needs and concerns. While the university aims to create a more welcoming environment for women and non-binary individuals, the policy has raised questions about whether it unfairly targets men and whether it can be effectively implemented without excluding trans or non-binary individuals who identify as men.

The details

The new gym policy at USC's Lyon Center will ban men from using certain areas of the facility on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The policy was pushed by the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE), a student organization committed to 'uplifting all voices oppressed by the patriarchy.' SAGE partnered with the university to implement the new rules, which they say are meant to address concerns from women students about feeling uncomfortable in male-dominated gym spaces.

  • The new gym policy at USC's Lyon Center will be implemented starting on Monday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE)

A student organization at the University of Southern California that describes itself as a 'programming assembly and intersectional feminist organization under the student government, committed to uplifting all voices oppressed by the patriarchy.'

Mengze Wu

A senior neuroscience major at USC who supported the new gym policy, citing discomfort working out in 'men-dominated' spaces.

University of Southern California

The private research university in Los Angeles, California that has implemented the new gym policy.

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What they’re saying

“My past experiences with being in enclosed spaces where it's very men-dominated have never been super pleasant. There tends to be this problem where I don't get to take up a lot of space unless I really assert myself. And even then, I face a lot of hindrance in feeling completely comfortable.”

— Mengze Wu, USC Senior

What’s next

The university has stated that it will monitor the implementation of the new gym policy and make adjustments as needed to ensure it is effective and equitable for all students.

The takeaway

This policy highlights the ongoing challenges universities face in balancing the needs and concerns of different student groups when it comes to issues of gender equity and inclusivity. While the university aims to create a more welcoming environment, the ambiguity around enforcement and potential exclusion of trans or non-binary individuals raises questions about whether this policy is the best approach.