Sports, recreation and health are important aspects of the University experience. Physical education classes provide for the health and fitness needs of many college students. But for a select group of University Housing residents living in the health and fitness halls, fitness goes beyond the classroom and becomes a part of everyday life.
There are two of these halls in the housing system: Clark Hall in the Walton Complex and Thornton Hall in the Bean Complex. Residents of these halls engage in many diverse fitness-related activities.
“We play basketball and football quite a bit,” said freshman Clark resident Mike Spangenberg. “The rec center is just down the street.”
One Thornton resident, Anthony Lambatos, said he appreciates the hall’s weight room. “It’s nice for having a quick workout.” Lambatos, a freshman, said. “You don’t have to go all the way down to the rec center to lift weights.
“We also have groups that go to all the [Ducks] football and basketball games.”
Residents of these halls also participate on their own teams.
Veronica Stotts, a resident assistant at Clark Hall, helps organize such teams. “We’re trying to set up a team for girls’ volleyball right now,” Stotts said. “Our biggest success so far has been basketball.”
Both health and fitness halls have formed their own basketball teams. These teams challenge other halls to informal games. In January, Clark and Thornton played the first such game, with Clark winning by a score of 67-63.
“Basketball is a great way to bring the dorms together,” Spangenberg said. “[The games are] fun. It’s a good way to ease the burdens of college.”
The students in Thornton and Clark aren’t just keeping their bodies fit. They’re also strengthening their social lives.
“I’ve met a lot of cool people here,” said freshman Kara McManus, a Clark resident. “There are a lot of like-minded people in this hall. We’re all interested in the same things.”
Thornton resident Steve Budke said he likes the easy access to sports partners. “There’s always someone to go play basketball or football with you.”
In addition to the physical and social benefits of the health and fitness halls, residents can also improve their diets.
“I thought that maybe living here would help me stay away from the ‘freshman 15,’” said psychology major and Clark resident Sara Mulroy.
Even though the students still eat the occasional pizza and potato chips, many of them take advantage of the healthy alternatives Carson Hall cafeteria offers.
The residence hall experience is common for many college freshmen and sophomores. For the students in Clark and Thornton, that experience is improved by the addition of athletics, exercise and new friends. That combination makes the health and fitness halls a “slam dunk” for students who want to keep both their bodies and brains in good shape.
‘Fitness halls’ provide built-in motivation
Daily Emerald
March 8, 2001
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