New ARC helps Campus Recreation to make big changes

New ARC to help campus rec to make big changes

By Weslie Hatch

With the new Aggie Recreation Center opening in November, Utah State University’s Campus Recreation program is set to make some big changes. Campus Rec plans to add new staff members, new classes, new clubs and hopes to become a better-structured department all around.

            “We’re growing. I mean, we are now going to have a climbing wall in the ARC,” said Staten, the club sports coordinator. “We think it will open doors for students to experience new things. We have a climbing club who can now practice here and host competitions with the other 10 or so colleges in this region, which will provide a year-long conference.”

            Campus Recreation is the only program at USU that is strictly funded through student fees. This year, the fees for students were raised from $25 for the legacy fields, HPER building, and Fieldhouse, to $75 for the ARC and the opportunities it will provide.

Some students have voiced their concerns about the raised fees. The students are concerned that the new ARC is only going to accommodate students who like to play sports, like basketball and volleyball, and students that like to work out – all things that the Fieldhouse and HPER building already accommodate.

            “I hope there will be something for everyone,” Staten said. “We have the students at our hearts. That’s our responsibility.”

            Campus Recreation implements a lot of its planning and changes on student input and feedback. Right now, according to Staten, the department is attempting to add classes based on student preference.

            “We’re not going to hold Jazzercise classes because that happened in the 80s. Now we have things such as stand-up paddle boarding and HIIT – high intensity interval training – classes,” said Shirley, the outdoor programs coordinator. “With campus recreation we are trying to keep up with the latest things and are trying to make sure we provide exactly what the students want. We’re hoping for smaller classes that will focus on circuit training. We just hired a new professional fitness coordinator who we think will help open the door for all sorts of opportunities and we think it will also be immensely essential not just for our department as Campus Recreation, but for our fitness program to grow as well.”

            Shirley said because Campus Recreation is growing so rapidly, they have had to hire more staff. He said they now have well-staffed hours, which are helping to create a more programmatic nature, and it’s helping to give more structure for the department.

            More information about Campus Recreation, or the programs it provides, is available at usu.edu/campusrec, or through Alys Statne at alys.staten@usu.edu and Brian Shirley at brian.shirley@usu.edu.