New additions added to both recreation centers

Recreation Services at Southeast Missouri State University is one of the many things that can help students get out of their shell and involved with something that fits them.

Coming to a college campus can be difficult. According to Associate Director of Recreational Services at Southeast Eric Redinger, student involvement is important and participating in programs offered by the Recreation Services is one of way students can become more involved on campus.

"Being involved as a student helps retain you as a student," Redinger said. "If you can get involved as a student, regardless if that's an intramural or club sport or if you come to the rec center a lot or if you get involved in a fraternity or sorority or a student organization on campus, that involvement is an investment and then those students are more likely to stay in school more likely to do well in school, and more likely to graduate."

Over the summer there were new additions made to the recreation centers.

"There were some big weight room improvements and fitness improvements to our spaces," Redinger said.

New dumbbells were added in the weight room with "Redhawks" written on them along with a Redhawk logo being painted on the bottom of both the lap pool and leisure pool.

"Were putting a bit of school spirit in our buildings and our spaces," Redinger said.

There are two recreation centers on campus, the Student Recreation Center-North and the Student Recreation Center-South. The south recreational center is located near Houck Stadium and features weightlifting machines, cardio machines and some free weights.

The Student Recreation Center-North is the bigger center located right next to the Show Me Center on campus.

The north recreational space offers everything the Student Recreation Center-South does plus much more.

The Recreation Center-North offers a variety of facilities including five basketball courts, an indoor track, a rock climbing wall, racquetball courts and an indoor bouldering wall in the aquatic center, which is the only one like it in the country.

The full list of classes can be found on the Recreation Services website at semo.edu/recservices.

Personal training is available one-on-one as well as in small groups, which is considered two to four people.

Prices range depending on amount of people and sessions. For example, if one student wanted a one-hour session with a personal trainer it would cost them $10.

For a small group the fee is $10 dollars per person per session.

The more sessions one buys, the cheaper the cost.

Redinger said that both the Recreation Services on campus are well attended, but he wishes more people would take advantage of group fitness programs at the affordable price.

Group fitness is not just aerobics, and he wants to change the stereotype.

"I think that the stereotype is still there that group fitness is aerobics and it's for mostly women, and it's definitely not," Redinger said.

One of the more popular programs that recreational services offers is intramural or club sports.

There is a list of different sports that student can sign up for at imleagues.com/semo.

"We have a disproportional amount of recreational spaces for how many we have, compared to other universities our size," Redinger said.

Leagues for intramurals are available in men's, women's and coed, including recreational and competitive leagues.

"Intramural and club sports are a great way to make new friends, stay active, discover a new sport or continue playing a sport you love," Assistant Director of Intramural and Club Sports Jennifer Rose said.

Recreational services host many events throughout the school year each year, and this year is no different.

The full list of events for the year also can be found online at semo.edu/recservices.

"Every student should be able to find something they care about," Redinger said.