A very important aspect of the liberal arts tradition is the need to develop the body of the student along with the mind for complete well-being.
Step-aerobics is one of many
The Student Recreation Center's
Students take advantage of a
The weight room is a den of constant activity as students condition and tone with the help of on-duty instructors. |
Stuart Vorkink, Truman professor of political science and chairman of the Recreation Center Building Committee, said, "the needs of the students [in this aspect] weren't being met and it was clear that a facility was needed to accommodate this facet of the liberal arts tradition." More than two years ago, Truman students voted in favor of a fee which would be used to construct a recreation center. Their dreams have now come to fruition with the completion of the Student Recreation Center. After breaking ground on February 9, 1996, for the construction of the Student Recreation Center, Truman held a ribbon cutting ceremony for this $8 million facility on August 25, 1997, with the doors opening for use on Tuesday, August 26. The Student Recreation Center is funded primarily by student fees, but is open to all Truman students, faculty and staff. Since opening day the weekday number of users has been an average of 780 Truman students, faculty and staff. The activity areas within the Student Recreation Center include: a three-court, wood floor, main gym suitable for basketball, volleyball or badminton; a small gym with a multipurpose floor that can accommodate roller hockey, indoor soccer, basketball or volleyball; a weight room; an aerobics room; an elevated three-lane jogging track; cardiovascular machines training area; locker rooms; and a lounge with a large screen television and vending area. The Member Services Desk near the front door serves as the entry control point, and is the location for the check-out of playing equipment, including basketballs, indoor and outdoor volleyballs, indoor and outdoor soccer balls, footballs, frisbees, badminton racquets and racquetball racquets, table tennis paddles, weight lifting belts, eye guards, jump ropes and table games. To work out in the facility, students, faculty and staff need to bring a Truman I.D. and a separate pair of shoes for working out. "This policy is strictly enforced," said Susan Limestall, director of the center. "We don't want people to walk on the gym floors or use the equipment with the same shoes they were wearing outside through mud, gravel, snow and rain."
The member Services Desk serves as the Center's entry point. Truman IDs are scanned to record usage statistics.
Nearly $300,000 was spent on fitness equipment to outfit the weight room and cardiovascular training areas with state-of-the-art equipment. A wide range of cardiovascular training equipment is available, including treadmills, steppers and climbers, upright bicycles, recumbent bicycles, and rowers. There are 25 pieces of free weight training equipment includes benches, squat racks, plate loaded machines, and all the bars, weight plates, and dumbbells. Also, 40 pieces of strength training equipment offer the user a complete body work-out. Weight room instructors are always on duty to assist the user in learning how to use each machine to gain the maximum benefit. The Student Recreation Center is one of the largest employers of students on campus. Approximately 50 students work in the Student Recreation Center as desk clerks, building supervisors, weight room instructors or aerobics instructors. Another 30-35 students work specifically with Intramurals. The Intramurals Office is also located in the Student Recreation Center. There are 15 different activities that students, faculty and staff can join each semester. Basketball is the most popular with numerous divisions available. Activities also include: soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, horseshoes, tug-of-war, and many others. "This year we've had a tremendous response to intramurals," said Dan Zimmer, director of intramurals. Intramurals were formerly held in Pershing Building with limited hours available. Now that intramurals are accommodated through the Student Recreation Center, more people are participating. The nationally ranked Bulldog Roller Hockey Club practices regularly in the Student Recreation Center, as well as the Truman Men's Volleyball Club. Other clubs and teams maintain their conditioning workouts in the Student Recreation Center as the winter weather drives them indoors, including the Bull and Bullets Rugby Clubs, and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. Visitors may sign in to tour the Student Recreation Center at any time during open hours. Truman students, faculty and staff may purchase a $2.00 guest pass (5 pass limit per semester) to allow a friend or family member to accompany them to use the Student Recreation Center. Aerobics classes are $2.00 per class and may be purchased at the Member Services Desk. Individual combination locks are available for daily use with a Truman I.D. Alumni who are in town should visit the Office of Alumni and Development (Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) in McClain Hall 100 to purchase a $2.00 special guest pass and take advantage of all that the Student Recreation Center has to offer. Come give your body and soul a boost at Truman!
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