An increase in classes is helping the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to see more sweat and calorie burning than ever before.
According to Dave Edwards, director of the University Student Union, the SRWC has been averaging around 350 more visits per day compared to this time last year.
“I’ve been using the [SRWC] more this year, because every Wednesday, I have a five-hour break between classes, so I head over and work out,” junior criminal justice major Cameron Presti said.
The number of visitors to the SRWC has increased each year since its opening. According to data provided by Dave Edwards, through the first eight weeks of the fall 2010 semester, the SRWC had 128,864 student visits. In 2011, that number increased to 133,367.
This year, though, student visits increased to 146,102 throughout the first eight weeks, marking a nearly 10 percent increase from 2011.
“There’s something special going on at Cal State Long Beach when it comes to the Rec. Center,” Edwards said.
According to Associated Students Inc. Communications Coordinator Christina Esparza, 62 percent of the student population visits the SRWC.
“It’s something that students want and are demanding statewide,” she said.
Edwards said he attributes the increase to the additional programs and services that the SRWC is offering, like more mid-afternoon fitness classes. Overall participation in fitness classes throughout the first half of the fall semester increased from 1,575 individuals in 2010 to 6,240 in 2012.
Junior business finance major Mark Colma said that he tries to go to the SRWC at least three times a week.
“When I do go, I usually use the free weights, upper body machines and curl bars,” he said.
Edwards also attributes the number of student visits to Owen’s Condition for Tuition Program, which gives students points for visiting the SRWC and working out. Each semester, the student with the most points receives free tuition for one semester.
This year, Edwards said the program has more than 2,200 participants, which is more than the last two semesters combined.
Even though the SRWC offers more classes, students can still find it hard to fit a good workout in their busy schedules.
“I used to come about three times a week, but my schedule is full this semester and I don’t go as much now,” senior social work major Daniel Zarate said.
