By Brandon Davis
A common dilemma many students face when beginning their college careers out of high school is figuring out how to stay in shape while adjusting to a new schedule.
The Student Activities Center’s fitness center offers a variety of different activities to help keep students in shape, including an accessible weight room stocked with treadmills, free and machine weight systems and other cardiovascular equipment.
“In the Louisville Metropolitan area, this [SAC] is one of the best facilities around,” Ken Carey, gym employee, said. “The vast array of equipment and stuff that this facility has here along with the facilities at the Crawford and Humana, it can’t be beat.”
The SAC is open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is free with an active student ID.
The SAC fitness center also provides five racquetball courts, two squash courts and complete locker room facilities along with four multi-purpose gym floors which are used for basketball, volleyball and badminton.
“It offers pretty much everything you want,” Greg Welsh, junior nursing major, said. “They have a gym, basketball courts, racquetball and they’re always open when you need them to be so it’s pretty convenient.”
For those looking to keep themselves occupied in some competitive form or just looking for a way to blow off some steam without all the sweat, the Cardinal Corner might be the answer. Also located in the SAC, the Cardinal Corner provides an assortment of free games for students to compete in, including pool, ping-pong, air hockey and foosball.
The Ralph Wright Natatorium, located on the corner of Warnock Ave. and Floyd St., is one for the newest facilities on campus and allows students a chance to swim in an Olympic-size pool. The Natatorium is also home to the U of L’s men’s and women’s swim teams and is complete with an eight-lane, 50 meter competition pool with depth ranging from four feet, six inches to 18 feet.
“It’s really a great facility,” Matt Blanford, graduate student and lifeguard, said. “It’s brand new and I think students are surprised when they find out that it’s even here and they’re allowed to use it for free.”
The Natatorium is open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and is also open at various times on weekends.
The Humana Gym is another facility available for students looking to work out. Located on Bradley Ave. and Eastern Pkwy., the Humana Gym offers complete weight and cardiovascular rooms, dry heat saunas and gym floors are available when not used for club practices. Free for students, the Humana Gym is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
U of L also offers a variety of different sports clubs and intramural league sports which provide students looking for a more structured plan to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, a solid solution while satisfying their competitive juices.
With clubs like badminton, fencing, gymnastics and many others, students are given the opportunity to compete while receiving a chance to learn a new sport or continuing to play a familiar one. There are also many different intramural league sports students can play including football, basketball, and soccer.
The University of Louisville Association of Black Students is having their week from Feb. 23 to 27. The week will include food, discussions and movies throughout U of L's campus and free appetizers Friday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Carly Rae's located in Old Louisville.
ABS became neighbors with Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Services at the beginning of last semester.
Discount tickets available to students, faculty and staff
Discount tickets to the Kentucky Center Presents Arts Program, will soon be available for University of Louisville students, faculty and staff.
"This does not include some programs that are produced by other organizations, i.e. PNC Broadway," said Director of Student Activities Tim Moore.
As University of Louisville students Nikki Romine and Danielle Zachery sit separately, one in Strickler Hall and the other in Davidson Hall respectively, they study and eat. The difference comes in the fact that one smokes and the other doesn't.
On Friday, Feb. 13, the Kentucky legislature passed a tax bill that increased cigarette tax from 30 to 60 cents.
Louisville's weather is a schizophrenic phenomenon. "It's not anything alarming, it's just kind of amazing," said Tim Dowling, University of Louisville Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy.
Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of interesting developments come from the University of Louisville football program. Between the announcements of the Cards' 2009 recruiting class, and the departure of offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm, U of L football has been one of hotter topics as of late.
The Cultural Center at the University of Louisville is open to students of many different walks of life and seeks to provide a safe environment for diverse group engagement, discussion and socialization.
The center opened in August, 2008 and went through a series of image transformations physically and aesthetically. Previously known as the Office for Minority Affairs, the Cultural Center now has new signage on the outside and is full of bright walls and colorful artwork from the Hite Institute on the inside.
Meet and greet with
Louisville Mayor
Volunteers are needed to attend the Mayor Jerry Abramson's press conference on Wed., Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Student Government Association candidates for the March 2 - 4 elections are officially campaigning and debating for their offices.
Students can vote for the top four SGA positions: Student Body President, Executive Vice President, Academic Vice President and Services Vice President.
At the end of the February Faculty Senate meeting, a question was asked about reducing crime on campus. To which University of Louisville Provost Shirley Willihnganz said we have to take precautions.
On Wed., Feb. 4 the second notification for the spring 2009 semester was issued from U of L Police Department.
McAlister's Deli opening delayed until March
McAlister's Deli, which was originally supposed to open in January, will be opening in March 2009.
McAlister's will be located in the Miller Information Technology Center in the space which was previously Mitzi's.
