Ledger

Issue date: 5/18/06 Section: Health and Wellness

Could this type of room be in UWT's future?

Every year, students
suffer from stress and
anxiety caused by heavy
class loads and hectic
schedules. Counseling is
one way to manage stress
and anxiety, but another
is exercise. Relief for our
campus may be just around
the corner.
As the UWT grows, the
administration is addressing
the physical fitness
benefits of fighting stress
by bringing a fitness facility
to the campus.
In addition, other
options such as teaming up
with an existing local gym
to offer students a way to
find an even more diverse
student experience, have
healthier options and generally
serve the student
population better.
The student population
ranges from 18-year-old
prior running start students
to seasoned professionals
returning for their second
degree. The options given
to them right now for stress
management are visiting
school counselors.
The cry has gone out
from the student body for
more options, and those
cries have been heard by
UWT staff members that
are looking to better student
life by either expanding
on undeveloped property
to offer a fitness facility
or joint venturing with
the local YMCA giving
students and faculty a discounted
membership.
The Associated Students
of the University of Washington,
Tacoma, is proactive
in their approach to
hearing what students have
to say.
"Questionnaires are
being sent out next week
to students to see what they
want so any
p r o g r a m s
d e v e l o p e d
can be customized
to
their needs,"
says Glenda
H e d d e n ,
A S U W T
S e n a t o r .
"We're taking
the angle
of complete
care for students
which
include fitness
options along with
comprehensive health insurance,
dental, vision, mental
health, daycare, etc."
There is no doubt that
regular exercise helps to
manages stress and anxiety.
According to one
UWT school counselor,
every piece of research
ever done on the subject
points to the helpfulness
of exercise and recreation
in managing life's stressors.
As well exercise and
recreation improve mental
health, physical health,
sleep, weight management,
and quality of life.
The inclusion of exercise
is consistently addressed in
managing both anxiety and

Continued...

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