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St. Cloud State University
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Recreation Center opens
By Nick Aaland
Published:
Monday, January 24, 2005
Media Credit: Kell Sanders
Student government President Hal Kimball and SCSU President Roy Saigo cut the ribbon on the new Recreation Center connected to Halenbeck Hall. The new facility features a fitness center, a student lounge, rock climbing and more.
After months of construction, the new Student Recreation Center connected to Halenbeck Hall is open and ready for student use.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut Jan. 20 to mark the beginning of kickoff week, in which a series of events will celebrate the opening through Jan. 30.
The Mountain Dew Xtreme Climbing Wall, dome, fitness center, student lounge area and the two aerobic studios make up the bulk of the Recreation Center. However, the Recreation Center is not complete quite yet.
Future attractions will include Outdoor Endeavors, a martial arts center, a wellness center and the Trails End Cafe. They are scheduled for completion by fall semester 2005.
"We're going to grow as we go," Director of Campus Recreation Ron Seibring said. "This is a very nice place for students to hang out at."
Two years ago, the ideas of building a new stadium and recreation center were given life when a referendum with an 80 percent approval rating was passed.
Climbing Wall
The Bernicks family (owners of Bernicks' Pepsi) donated the Mountain Dew Xtreme Climbing Wall. The wall features different challenges for various climbers.
There is the smaller wall and larger wall-- both featuring natural crevices and natural rock texture.
Each wall has alternative holes that allow flexibility for moving grips around to develop different trek routes up the obstacle.
"With the ability to move the grips around, this wall will never get boring," Seibring said. "You can change the path for a different climb and make your own new challenges."
In order to climb high, there must be a belayer, or a spotter for the recreational climber. There is trained staff on hand, but for $10, anyone can take training to become a certified belayer.
"If you take the training, you won't have to wait in line for our staff to help you," Seibring said. "You and your friends can just go and climb."
Fitness Center
Anyone who buys a pass for $25 may use the fitness center. The passes can be purchased at the front desk along with fitness and aerobic classes. The seven-week sessions cost $15 and go from Jan. 25 to March 25. The center also offers trained staff for those who would like personal attention.
The new fitness center features a vast array of new equipment ranging from stairmasters, treadmills, ellipticals, free weights and weight machines.
Besides the new equipment, 13 of the fitness machines include personal mounted TVs. All of the other cardio machines have the option to plug in headphones and listen to one of the ten TV stations running on mounted monitors.�������
"It's nice to be able to pick what you want to watch while you're running," SCSU first-year Sarah Andrews said.
Other Additions
The dome that covers the football field can be used as an activity area. Sometimes the softball and baseball teams practice there, but the edge of the field contains a protective net to protect walkers and joggers. The dome is 125 yards long, 80 yards across and 70 feet high.
Within the facility there is also a lounge area with a big screen TV and a pair of ping-pong tables. The Recreation Center staff plans to add a foosball table, an air hockey table and the massage studio.
The student Recreation Center is open Monday thru Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.
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