Maybe it’s the warm weather of Southern California,
forcing college kids to appear in bathing suits on the beach. Maybe
it’s the inactivity of a three-month layover that leaves them
with some anxious energy to work off.
For whatever reason, students are remaining health-conscious
this summer by taking advantage of the athletic facilities around
campus. The options for those around Westwood in the summertime who
want to work up a sweat reads like a laundry list.
The John Wooden Center runs an extensive strength and cardio
conditioning program, the Aquatic Center runs a bevy of water
sports, and the Students Activities Center runs instructional
classes that range from dance to yoga. These activities are
additions to the facilities usually available at Wooden and Sunset
Canyon Recreation Center, like the rock wall and swimming
pools.
The reason all these options remain at the UCLA
community’s disposal during the summer, when most of the
campus is sleeping away its break, is due to high demand from the
student body.
“We would not have all these facilities and programs if
there wasn’t a large number of people who came in and used
them,” said Dennis Koehne, manager of the Wooden Center.
“More than anything we want to give people options because
when you have a large community like UCLA, people are going to want
different ways of staying in shape.”
Outdoor Adventure, one of the latest additions to the
recreational department, offers students the chance to participate
in outdoor athletics such as windsurfing and kayaking with trained
instructors, each spread out among the greater Los Angeles
area.
The popularity of the programs can be attributed to the attitude
of the students on campus, many of whom try to stay in peak
physical shape despite the nonchalant lifestyle of college.
“Students at UCLA are really committed to staying in shape
and being healthy. Not all campuses are as health-conscious,”
Koehne said.
While students have a plethora of options to remain physically
active available to them, there is a sense of familiarity with each
program because of the sustained relationships that students build
with instructors.
“The group workouts and classes are typically very small,
and members of the community can really get to know their
instructors,” Koehne said. “It’s very conducive
for people who just want to have a good workout in a casual,
friendly atmosphere.”
This positive environment gives students a sense of belonging
that holds together the UCLA community even when most students are
back at home.
“It’s nice to be able to have the recreational
programs available so that the campus is not so desolate,”
said Alex LaRue, a second-year music student.
“I have a group of people I use the facilities with, and
it gives me a small piece of what we have during the school
year.”