The P.E. complex is easily one of the most underused resources offered at NEIU. Located near the Child Care Center and baseball diamonds on the NEIU campus, it is easy to understand why most students don’t even know of its existence. If you get past its inconvenient location however, one can easily surmise that it has more to offer than a several minute walk.
The P.E. complex is host to five basketball courts, four racquetball courts, six outdoor tennis courts, an eight lane 25-yard swimming pool, three-lane 1/6 mile elevated indoor track, and two group fitness studios. All of these facilities are open to students during the P.E. complex hours, as well as immediate family members during the designated family recreation hours.
There are many free programs offered for students as well.
“A lot of students don’t know about the free programs in this building, and they should because they pay a student activity fee,” said Senior Intramural Sports Supervisor Edmund Cruz.This activity fee is what allows NEIU students to benefit from all that is offered at the P.E. building, from the mere use of the facilities, to the fitness assessment and the three 60-minute personal training sessions by certified trainers that are available for each student every semester.
“People don’t need to pay for a membership at X-Sport because here, it’s free,” says Cruz.
On top of these opportunities, the fitness center also offers classes that include spinning, sports conditioning and zumba, a Latin inspired cardio dance exercise that borrows from the dance genres of salsa, merengue, bachata, hip hop, and belly dancing.
Along with all of these activities the P.E. complex is also home to NEIU’s various club sports teams that include aikido, dance team, men’s and women’s soccer, men and women’s volleyball and men’s basketball. These clubs are all open to NEIU students who are taking a minimum of six credit hours for the semester. Clubs are active year round and typically hold tryouts near the beginning of the fall semester, but will usually accept all individuals who try out. Club sports will also accept students midway through the season.
These clubs do not receive funding from the school and are entirely student run, making student involvement essential in their success and survival. Students are players as well as coaches, such as Head Coach of the Men’s Volleyball Club and physical education major, Mark Mocraski, who has six years of coaching experience.
Teams such as the NEIU men’s volleyball team travel to play other club teams at schools such as Bradley, SIU, UIC and Loyola.
Seasonally, there are also plenty of recreational activities that take place at the P.E. complex. There are currently 12 intramural sports for fall, including bowling, flag football, tennis, two-person golf scramble, disc golf, co-ed soccer, co-ed volleyball, table tennis, floor hockey, intramural 3-on-3 basketball and a bench press competition. There is also going to be the NBA 2K10, a new event which is a one day tournament on the PS3 which will pit competitors against each other for the prize of a novelty t-shirt.
These activities offer a variety of competition styles from a league format, such as flag football and basketball, to a ladder format, such as tennis, table tennis and disc golf.Signing up to participate in these activities can be done by going over to the P.E. complex and signing up directly, calling and registering, or signing up online at the gym’s website, on Facebook, or even Twitter. There are usually six teams, with 10 members to a team, for the most competitive teams. However, if there are not enough people, the sport may be cut, so if you want to play, sign up as soon as you can.
The P.E. complex at NEIU offers more than one could hope for, and it’s a shame that most students can go their full academic career here without visiting it until their graduation. It’s a veritable smorgasbord of activities that are sure to keep you busy and excited. Next time you are bored on campus, walk on by to the P.E. complex and see what they have in store. From helping you work out to lending you camping equipment, chances are you won’t be disappointed. It’s NEIU’s hidden gem, and it’s waiting to be discovered by you.
For more information call the gym at (773) 442-4135, or visit their website at http://www.neiu.edu/~campsrec/live/index.php