PULLMAN, Wash. — The Student Recreation Center at Washington State University will offer a range of new facilities to members this fall, including televisions and digital radio, a sundeck and roller hockey/indoor soccer rink, a health-food bar and the latest fitness equipment.
Televisions will be installed in the main cardiovascular room before the end of September. At least six televisions will be arranged on the wall, and additional systems may be mounted on individual exercise machines. The wall televisions will be tuned to different channels, and members can plug their own headphones into small devices attached to the exercise machines to hear the channel of their choice.
A new digital radio system will provide continuous music without advertisements for members who do not want to follow the television channels. Digital radio will allow for a broader variety of music.
A sundeck outside the pool area opened in July. Tables and umbrellas also are available on the deck, which is for members’ use only. The roller hockey/indoor soccer rink opens fall semester, and a schedule will regulate different activities on the rink.
Another new facility at the SRC is Butch’s Bistro, where members can purchase a wholesome meal, snack or drink. Menu items include fresh salads, sandwiches and fruit smoothies. Faculty and students of WSU’s Hotel and Restaurant Administration program run the bistro.
Members can use five new FreeRunner elliptical striding systems as well as new stretching machines. The center purchased additional Crosstrainer elliptical systems and a new treadmill because of the machines’ popularity.
Sharaé Randall, marketing and membership coordinator at University Recreation, said in addition to the new facilities, the SRC will continue to offer the same services and hours as in the spring, despite budget concerns. The university received enough money from the state to allocate funds to the SRC for maintenance and operation costs the next two years, she said. The SRC continues to create revenue through fitness classes and memberships, and staff is making sure that available money is going to the right places, she added.
Promotions for fall semester include a back-to-school event on Thursday, Aug. 23 to introduce people to University Recreation and the center. Students can enjoy a 28-foot inflatable slide and a Velcro wall or take part in an intramural sports challenge, kayak races in the pool and free fitness classes. Gifts also will be given away. The center will have a special Dad’s Weekend promotion Nov. 2-4.
The SRC opened on Jan. 16, and 11,825 members have used it last spring semester. Some 500 members are staff, faculty or spouses of students. In addition, more than 19,000 people, mostly prospective students, their parents, community members, and faculty and staff, took tours through the center. Members are giving very positive feedback, Randall said.
“They can’t imagine what they did before to recreate on the WSU campus. The center has become a staple to campus,” she said.
One of the SRC’s greatest advantages is that all recreation-related services are located in one place. “The center offers one-stop shopping for recreation on campus. People can just come here and find opportunities,” Randall said.
The 160,000-square-foot center has the largest free-weight and cardiovascular fitness training area in a student facility in the nation and houses more than 200 pieces of exercise equipment. It has an indoor, elevated, four-lane track, four racquetball/squash courts, a five-lane lap pool, a leisure pool and seven all-purpose gyms for basketball, volleyball and badminton.
Members can sign up for semester-long exercise classes in aerobics, spinning, Stomp, cardio-boxing, instructional fitness, aquatic fitness and yoga. Those who need a little downtime can schedule a massage, unwind in the 53-person spa with its cascading waterfall or relax in the lounging areas.
The center also features programs to increase other aspects of health. Together with WSU Health and Wellness Services, it provides a relaxation center, a nutrition clinic, weight-loss programs, health assessments and personal trainers.
All students enrolled for seven or more credits in the fall pay a $100 fee automatically added to their student account. Students approved payment of a mandatory fee in an April 1997 referendum.
Spouses of students can become members for $100 per semester, and faculty and staff can sign up for $140 per semester or an annual fee of $360. Day passes are available at $7 for a single entry or $56 for 10 entries. A guest accompanied by a member pays $5 per entry or $40 for 10 entries.
SRC hours for the fall begin on Aug. 15. The center will be open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sundays. Extended family hours are 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fridays (pool only), 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays.
Summer hours are 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Family hours in the summer are 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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