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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
8/23/2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES After seven years of anticipation by Northwestern State University's students, the $8.3 million Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center (WRAC) held its grand opening Tuesday.
NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb cut the ribbon, officially opening the Center for use by Northwestern students, faculty, staff and members of the facility.
"The best adjective I can use to describe the facility is 'magnificent,''' said Webb, who worked closely with students to guide the project to completion. "A tremendous amount of effort went into making this facility become a reality."
The Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center (WRAC) is the renovated and expanded Intramural Building and contains two large gyms with four courts for basketball, volleyball or badminton, three racquetball courts, a fitness assessment lab and a 1/9th mile indoor track.
Also included are a 3,000 square foot free weight room, a 2,800 square foot strength machine room, a 2,800 square foot cardio room and a 2,500 square foot group exercise room. The WRAC includes the latest equipment by fitness companies including Nautilus and Precor cardio equipment.
The WRAC will also have a fully staffed service center, two game rooms with pool, foosball and ping pong tables, massage therapy area, men's and women's locker room with separate shower and steam rooms. There will also be a café area with vending machines, meeting room and administrative area.
"I look forward to having a chance to use the WRAC," said Kathy Swate, a sophomore hospitality management and tourism major from Zwolle. "This will give students more to do. It will also give us a way to meet other students and attract other students to Northwestern."
The 89,000 square foot WRAC is being paid for with an assessment fee of $75 per semester approved by NSU students in 1998.
"The Center meets and exceeds all the expectations we had," said alumnus Alicia Thomas, who was SGA President in 1997-98 and made a presentation to the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities seeking approval for a student referendum. "This is awesome. I didn't think I would ever see it."
Thomas credited Webb and Dr. Ed Anders, a former member of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, with convincing students to renovate the former Intramural Building instead of constructing a new building.
"This puts Northwestern among the leaders in campus wellness," said alumnus Luke Dowden, the SGA President in 1998-99 when the student referendum funding the center was passed. "The Center is going to be a major recruiting tool for the university. It also will recenter campus in a way that will be beneficial."
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. The center will be open throughout the year.
Memberships for NSU faculty and staff are $20 per month or $240 per year. Memberships for Northwestern alumni, faculty and staff at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and friends of the university are $35 per month or $360 per year. Spouses of any member can use the center for $20 per month. The student assessment fee covers membership for Northwestern students.
For more information, call (318) 357-5269 or go to http://www.nsula.edu/recsports.