Five Little Known Facts: Drexel Recreation Center
Drexel University boasts diversity in all areas of campus life, from the classroom to the Korman Quad, and from the crowd at a career fair to the audience cheering on our Dragons at a sporting event.
But according to Andrew Case, manager of sales and marketing for the Department of Athletics, Recreation, there’s a specific building on campus where diversity really shines: the Drexel Recreation Center.
“[There is] a very diverse background of people who are using our facility, no matter the major, no matter your background, no matter your ethnicity or your gender,” he says. “This is a place that is tremendously welcoming for people on campus and it's really clear in our mission and values as a department.”
Case hopes that this and many other factors about what the Rec Center offers are evident to the students, faculty, staff and community members who chose to utilize its amenities. But with any campus resource, there’s a chance for misconceptions to arise. According to Case, here are some Rec Center myths that it’s time to debunk:
The Rec Center is more for those who want to stay in shape, rather than those who want to get in shape.
For students who may be questioning the advantages of being active, Case cites a study from North Carolina State University which found a positive correlation between undergraduate academic performance and physical activity, including a 49 percent increase in the graduation rate for students who worked out just one hour a week.
“When you read a number like that and you tell students, ‘This is going to benefit you. Not just physically, but mentally as well.’ … I think people are going to latch on to that,” he said.
However, maybe some Dragons out there realize the benefits, but don’t know where to start when it comes to getting in shape. For these students, Case would implore them to look past their inhibitions and simply walk through the Rec Center doors.
“There’s no wrong answer for who you are and what you want to do here,” he said. “I think the hardest part of going to a gym is going to a gym. Once you're here, that's the easy part. You're surrounded by different things to do to work up a sweat, burn some calories or do something that's beneficial for your health. Once you're here, it becomes fun!”
Case added that students new the gym will also find the friendly, familiar faces of their peers to help them on their fitness journey.
“We are primarily student-run,” he said. “We have student staff working at the welcome center, the fitness floor, the group exercise room, the climbing wall and at the pool. So, to get acclimated here, simply ask a question to any of our staff and there’s a great chance it’s going to be a student that's answering that question.”
Check out Recreational Athletics “Beginners Guide to Exercise” for more tips.
The Rec Center is only for Drexel Students.
Though the Rec Center staff is mostly comprised of students, patronage at the Rec Center reaches far beyond the Drexel student population.
In fact, according to Case, 645,000 people from more than 100 countries have stepped into the Rec Center in the last year. Little-known user populations include those from the 25 active corporate partners the Rec Center holds within the community, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Amtrak and FMC. Additionally, the Rec Center draws other student populations, including those from other colleges who sign up for a special membership when they are home locally for the summer.