The border vidette., 1930-04-12
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA NEWS

University of Arizona (Tucson)
That clear. clean, healthy and
happy buzz of boys voices which
can be heard any afternoon in
dressing rooms of the Mems
Gymnasium is an encouraging
sign of q greater interest in ply
sical education.
Three years ago, at the Uni
versity of Arizona, only those
who we're actively interested in
the freshmen or varsity teams
used the gym. There was row
after row of empty lockers, and
the large gym seemed more like
huge barn than q $500. 900
plant built to give the men stu
dents at the university supervis
ed physical education in the
form of properly prescribed ex
ercises. games, stunts, and in
tramural athletics.
Today perhaps 800 of the
young men whose voices make
that happy buzz in the after
Moons are not actively interested
in athletics. They are primari
~ interested in coming to the
gym for the good which they
can get out of exercising and
playing. These men represent
= large portion of the university
students who are not athletes,
and who need supervised ply
sical activity.
A much larger percent of the
men students is beginning to
realize that the daily activities
which they are accustomed to
carry on are not enough to keep
their bodies in good physical
tone. They are realizing the
need of properly supervised ply.
sical exercise to meet the strain
put on them while going to col
lege.
To get the most out of a col
lege education one must have
good body mechanics. or pos
ture, good muscle tone, and or
ganic and nervous vigor. These
all help ones body and brain to
act more efficiently. Many are
now aware of the fact that by
proper exercise under some one
who is trainer in physical educa
tion they can improve what is
broadly termed as their health.
More exercise with no super
vision is said to be worse than
no exercise at all. because it is
very liable to do more harm than
good. The mental. moral, and
social aspects of the work, IS
we'll as the scientific phase, are
wanting. Students are begin
ming to know this, and are more
interested in working under
someone who knows his stuff"
90 to speak. This is probably
one of the reasons why more
aud more young men are coming
to the gym every day for their
daily work out. Many also come
for diathermy treatments for
colds, sprains, bruises, torn mus.
cles, general debility, or even
for sinusitis.
The "P. E." office is usually
full Of students who want spe
cial exercises to strengthen and
develop certain parts of their
bodies. Others wants to know
how they can correct their pos
ture and generally tone up their
health. Advice is even asked
and given regarding certain mo
raj issues which may be troub
ling some worried student.
Boxing and wrestling classes
are held every Monday, Wednes.
day and Friday afternoons as q
request from the students who
we're interested in those particu
liar sports. AS an added evid
ence Of the interest of the stud.
ents. one can see individuals who
are suffering from some defect
or disability taking specially
prescribed exercises to better
their conditions.
This growth of interest in the
last three years can be attribut.
edit is stated. to the fact that the
students are realizing that they
can getjust what they want out
of physical education; also that
there is some one at the gym
who is willing to give some of
bis time to help those who are
interested in helping themselves.
This interest of the students
should lead to the establishing
of sophomore physical education
as an elective for credit toward