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Students can work up a sweat at recreation center

By Deepa Sampat

Monday, August 11, 2008

The “freshman 15” can be a harsh reality for new students. However, that doesn’t have to be a concern if students take advantage of workout options provided by the Student Recreation Fitness Center.

The $6.3 million expansion to the recreation center, which began in May 2007, is slated to be completed by mid-September. New additions include four multipurpose courts, a martial arts room, two racquetball courts and a virtual golf course.

“What’s really fun about it is it’s all student initiative,” said Mary Chappell, director of the recreation center. “Students are here wanting to make the University better.”

The expanded portion will open on Oct. 24, which is the Friday of Homecoming weekend. The recreation center will also be formally renamed the David A. Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center at a naming ceremony the same day. Ambler was former vice chancellor of student affairs. He held the position from 1977 to 2002.

Another addition to the recreation center was provided by the 2008 senior class. The senior class gift, a “KU” inlay, will be placed in the sidewalk in front of the center.

“Overall people think it’s a nice symbol for students to give back to the University,” Lori Reesor, associate vice provost for student success and senior class adviser said.

Students pay $74.50 in student fees for the recreation center. Chappell said students should take advantage of the recreation center because they were paying for it.

“Every student has ownership in it,” she said.

The recreation center will continue to offer its past programs. One of the most prominent features in the recreation center, the rock wall, is part of the outdoor pursuits program. Backpacks, tents, canoes and kayaks are all available for rent.

“It’s pretty cheap to go on a canoe trip for the weekend,” Chappell said. “During the Wakarusa Festival all the inventory was out.”

The KU Fit program offers more than 40 aerobic exercise classes, all taught by students. Lexi Childs, Wichita senior, teaches a Pilates class and a cardio dance party class.

“It’s a blast helping other people work out and helping them work out in a fun atmosphere,” Childs said. “It gets bored working out at the same level on machines. When you’re in a group setting it makes it a little more fun.”

Stacey Pope, Topeka junior and kickboxing instructor, agreed that exercising in a group provided a different dynamic than working out alone.

“There’s a sense of solidarity within all the girls in the class,” she said.

Forty free personal training sessions are offered every two weeks. All the personal trainers are also students and are health, sports and exercise majors or have certification. Childs said she recommended students take advantage of the personal training sessions to help them develop a workout routine.

“A lot of times people aren’t motivated because they might not know what to do,” she said. “You have an instructor motivating you instead of you motivating yourself.”

Chappell said that no matter where students exercised, it was important that they get in the habit of working out.

“It’s a lifestyle hopefully everyone can engage in,” Chappell said.

— - Edited by Matt Hirschfeld

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