The vision statement at the Arc is that there is a place for everyone at Campus Recreation and after interviewing Kathryn Sodetz and listening to Michael Danielson speak in class I truly believe that. It is comprised of 5 unites. These units are aquatics, event management, facility management, intramurals, personal training and wellness/group fitness. It was just recently redone and all the machines are top of the line and very high in technology. It also has an all glass roof so there is a lot of natural light. This makes the people using it feel like they are outside but they have perks of an indoor facility.
Students and facility at the University of Illinois mainly use the Arc. They get free membership and there are no fees that they have to pay to walk into and use the machines at the facilities. It is the largest freestanding facility in the nation. It promotes health and healthy living to the people that use it. It is not just simply a workout facility but it is so much more.
Another way that campus recreation gives back to the university is it is the 3rd largest campus employer with 700 to 750 student employees. Students in many different majors work there. There are many different things you could do while being employed at the arc. You can be a lifeguard, a facility administrator, clean machines, swipe ides, be a referee for intramural games, a personal trainer or even teach swimming lessons. I interviewed Kathryn Sodetz; she is a sophomore that has been working at the arc for a little over a year. Currently she is a lifeguard but she is also interested in seeing what else the arc has to offer. Certain pros she thought of working there was that it is on campus and you can get involved with the university in different ways.
One fact she told me about campus recreation in general is that during high points they can have up to 10,00 different people walk in through the doors each day. The arc also wants to listen to what people on the campus have to say. When figuring out how to redo the Arc they had student fill out surveys and they questions of what they wanted. Therefore the new Arc is made from what students ask for. The employees are there for members if they ever need anything. There are managers always on duty as well if further assistance is needed. There hours are also a perk I came to realize as they open early and close late to fit many different schedules.
Kathryn believed that the one value the arc tries to offer to students and facility is the idea of health. They want everyone to be healthy in many aspects of their life. The employees noticed that students were very stressed, and when figuring out group classes they added yoga and meditation for this very reason. Also they wanted their members to enjoy working out so on many of their machines they have ipod adaptors and they have many different TV’s to watch while on the machines. Another way they promote healthy living is by having a healthy snack bar near the entrance/exist. They sell a bunch of healthy foods so after patron’s workout they can get a healthy meal.
Overall, I have come to realize just how big of a role the Arc plays in campus recreation. Without the new building the students at University of Illinois would still be using old equipment and would less physically fit and mentally healthy. If any of the students or facility on this campus has a problem with campus recreation I say with full confidence that the employees of the Arc would be there, to help you and in way that they could.
Casey Taslitz
Pictures from Google Images
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