The ARC is a recreational facility that provides recreation and wellness opportunities for students as well as community members. The facility consists of numerous gyms where sports such as basketball, volleyball, racquetball or other activities can be played. The Arc also has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool along with a rarity in an indoor ice arena. A fitness center can be found in the ARC with weight lifting equipment, free weights and cardiovascular machinery. It also offers opportunities outside of the facility such as intramural sports and off campus recreational trips.
The campus recreational facility was first opened in 1971, first being named the Intramural-Physical Education Building, also known as IMPE. In 2005, IMPE was shut down so that a complete renovation could take place. This renovation began in March of 2006 and came to a total cost of $82.7 million dollars, funded completely by student fees. This was done to create more space for activities and increase the overall quality of the center with improvements all over the facility. After the renovation was completed, the name of the facility was changed to the ARC (Activities Recreation Center), which remains located on 201 E. Peabody Drive. Nevertheless, the renovation was a huge success and has provided new opportunities for members to partake in.
One automatically becomes a member of the ARC by enrolling in the university by paying the Service Fee when he or she first enrolls. Other eligible members of the ARC consist of community members and university affiliates that have to pay fees in order to utilize the facilities. The ARC provides various employment opportunities including event management, facility management, personal training and wellness services just to name a few. In order to possibly attain one of these positions, one must attend an information session, submit an application, resume and cover letter, and go through an interview.
Some trends that have becoming popular within the ARC are internal recreational programs that are comprised of traveling to off campus sites. For example, the ARC is sponsoring a trip to the Florida Everglades for a canoeing trip. Other “Adventure Trips” include a backpacking trip to Hoosier National Forest in April and a hiking and camping trip to Mammoth Cave that already occurred in October. The only major issue that arises in relation to the ARC comes from students and parents of students that complain about paying the mandatory Service Fee when the students might not be utilizing the facilities on campus as much as other might be.
The ARC sees leisure as a chance to become free from the demands of work and become more involved in the community in a healthy way. Its main goal is to be a source for students on campus, community members and university affiliates and to increase their health and wellness. The benefits received by members of the ARC consist of a chance to becoming healthier, become an active member of the community and have fun.
I had a very positive experience when I visited the ARC. I utilized the basketball courts as well as the fitness center. Both were very high quality resources that gave me know problems as I used them. However, one negative aspect of the basketball courts that I wanted to use was that there was usually a line that you had to wait if you wanted to play with the high competition. Similarly with the fitness center, there were so many people there that it was seldom to be able to just right onto a weight lifting machine. I usually found myself waiting in line to grab a bench or use some of the free weights. On a better note, the machinery was top notch and the basketball courts and hoops were in great condition. The way in which the ARC fits into the leisure delivery system in by giving its members opportunities to take a break from their lives and take part in something that will make them feel better in many ways, while possibly doing something that they thoroughly enjoy. Just like the Ancient Israelis used the Sabbath Day as a source of leisure, we as students and community members have the ARC!
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