kinesiology/exercise science 183 At one point or another, students used the many resources available in the Ganus Athletic Center, whether it was because they took a wellness class or because they chose to do so on their own. While it was common to see students engaged in various activities in the GAC, they were not the only group of people that took advantage of the facility’s workout room, swimming pool and basketball courts. Harding’s staff and faculty were the primary intended users for the resources in the GAC, which made up the Wellness Center. “It is a [kinesiology] program designed to improve the health of HU faculty/staff [first] and then students second,” Stephen Burks, Wellness Center Coordinator, said. “Anybody who uses the GAC facilities is participating in the wellness program.” The wellness program promoted wellness and healthy lifestyles through a number of different avenues. These included sponsoring a contest called Biggest Loser, encouraging involvement in running events such as the Midsouth marathon, Little Rock Marathon, Bison Stampede and MADD Dash and offering aerobics/Pilates and circuit training classes. Many faculty and staff wanted to live healthier lives but felt limited by time, so having the accessibility to the wellness program made reaching their health goals easier. English professor Dr. Alice Jewell became active in the wellness program when it began 10 years ago. She was excited for the chance to be involved in aerobics again and eager to lose some weight she had gained in the last several years. Jewell participated in a class that rotated between aerobics, step, stations or Pilates. “I swim five days a week at 5:15 a.m. with the faculty-staff women, and I do aerobics or Pilates at 5:15 p.m., three days a week when I can,” Jewell said. To carry that workout load, plus being a teacher and a mother of four, could seem daunting to some, but for Jewell, the effort to exercise consistently was worth it. “I feel great when I get out of the pool in the morning, awake and ready for my day,” Jewell said. “I don’t feel so great when I finish the aerobics class, more sweaty and sore, but I know my muscles and heart need that exercise too.” Students like senior Joey Rivas also made time in their busy schedules to take advantage of the GAC’s resources. Rivas, who worked out in the weight room four times a week, said having access to the GAC made it easier and more affordable to work out than going to a gym off-campus. “I don’t know that I would work out any less, but it would be a lot harder [without access to the GAC],” Rivas said. “Since the GAC is free, it’s a lot easier on the budget.” The convenience of the GAC’s wellness program helped make living healthy lifestyles more realistic for faculty, staff and students alike. “I do not have the self-discipline to exercise and diet alone, so the Harding wellness program has really given me the group activities I need to stay on target,” Jewell said. Burks understood the need for lifelong success with healthy living. “A diet should be a change in lifestyle that can be done for a long period of time,” Burks said. “They have to be reasonable and realize they can’t overeat on a regular basis and they need to begin some sort of exercise program. They don’t have to eat rice cakes and run five miles a day to lose weight.” Burks emphasized that consistent, small steps in eating habits were really a big step in living a healthy lifestyle. “Most people can have success simply by eating less of the food they enjoy,” he said. “You may have to learn to eat some healthier food, but sharing meals at restaurants and avoiding buffets can do wonders for a waistline.” Allison Weaver and Emily Hauptli Staying Fit Wellness program promotes commitment to health During his kinesiology golf class, freshman Ty Gould practices his golf swing on the driving range Sept. 23. This and several other wellness activity classes were offered, including tennis, racquetball, volleyball and swimming. Noah Darnell Eating at the kinesiology department’s annual cookout on Sept. 9, senior Katie Copeland grabs some chips. The cookout was held at the beginning of each school year to give students a chance to get to know each other and fellowship. Nick Michael Sophomore Erica Osborn gets her finger pricked by Professor Bob Corbin during their Wellness 101 class on Sept. 18. Every semester, students in the wellness classes had the opportunity to find out their blood type. Nick Michael Dr. Clifton L. Ganus Jr., a 1943 graduate and former history department chairman and vice president, served as president of the University from 1965 to 1987. Ganus had a drive for excellence by leading a plan of campus improvement and expansion, which consisted of an increase in enrollment, seven major academic buildings, four large residence halls and more. Upon his retirement, he became Harding’s first chancellor, and in his honor, the board of trustees named the physical education complex after him. what’s name? in a
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