Hot Topic: Health, Wellness, Recreation, and Athletics at CMC
By Jane Wildman P'18
Health, wellness, recreation, and athletic opportunities abound at CMC. As a member of the Claremont University Consortium, CMC students have access to unique health and wellness advantages and choices. CMC’s direct partnership with Scripps and Harvey Mudd offers students an additional litany of fitness, recreational and athletic activities, and the opening of the new state-of-the-art facility, Roberts Pavilion, widens our students’ opportunities for health, wellness, recreation, and athletic options.
Health and Wellness for All
On the health and wellness front, Claremont McKenna collaborates with the Consortium for Student Health Services (SHS). SHS is “Committed to promoting the physical health and wellness of all students at The Claremont Colleges. ” Services include general medical visits and sports physicals, x-rays, lab services, immunizations, and more. The consortium also provides Monsour Counseling and Pyschological Services (MCAPS), committed to supporting the physical, emotional, and psychological well being of students. MCAPS strives to accomplish these goals by providing supportive medical and psychological services, wellness programming, and healthy lifestyle education.
Recreation and Athletics: Beyond Varsity Sports
Recreation, fitness, and athletic opportunities at CMC transcend traditional sports. The school believes that physical education courses cultivate lifelong habits of health, stating that “Students’ understanding of mental and physical wellness is deeply correlated to personal productivity and the capacity to positively impact society.” Students must take three physical education courses, choosing from an impressive range of choices. From yoga to basketball, to Zumba, badminton, mediation, and aquatic aerobics, students can choose what works best for them.
According to Terrence Tumey, the CMS Director of Athletics, “We are here to develop all of our students. Not just our student-athletes. Everyone has an attribute in some way to be successful and excellent in some space.”
On the athletic and recreation front, Claremont McKenna joins forces with Harvey Mudd and Scripps (CMS). Beyond these highly ranked intercollegiate teams, students can participate in a litany of intramural leagues or club sports.
“While we are very proud of our intercollegiate athletics," says Tumey, "we are trying to fulfill the lives of all our students and their development beyond traditional athletics.”
Intramural and club sports include sand volleyball, inner tube water polo, basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, rugby, roller hockey, roller derby, fencing, cycling, equestrian, field hockey, tennis, and more. If a student is interested in an intramural sport but is not on a team, they can sign up on the free agent list to be placed on a team.
And if a student has a passion for an activity or a sport that is not offered? Tumey encourages students to just ask. “We are very open to student ideas. If there is a real interest, we can support these endeavors as well. Thursday night trivia at Roberts Pavilion is very popular, and it was the brainchild of a student.”
Robert’s Pavilion is still in its “infancy”according to Tumey, with activities such as meditation currently being evaluated. According to Tumey, “Roberts offers community services,” and values opportunities that go beyond traditional athletics. “It’s a student facility. It’s important to serve students.”
CMS Health and Wellness Fair
In the spirit of serving students and the CMC community, the College hosted the first ever CMS Health and Wellness Fair at Roberts Pavilion on Thursday, March 23. Assistant Athletic Trainer Raechel Holmes helped to organize the event along with 20 student volunteers.
“The students decided at our first meeting that the theme of the fair would be Mind, Body, Spirit,” said Raechel, “and they chose participants accordingly.”
From meditation to cross-fit, attendees had the option to connect with and learn about 30 different on- and off-campus resources. The fair also featured a blood drive and body composition testing.
Kenlyn Mirbach ’20 staffed a table for Fitness and Friends, a new campus club that she founded this year. “I saw a lot of people walking or running alone on campus,” explained Kenlyn, “and it gave me the idea to start this club. We want to get a group a people together who are interested in living a healthy lifestyle and having a good time doing it!”
As Tumey suggests, college is about “a total experience beyond great academics. It’s about helping every student develop. It’s about community, in your own way. How you want to be part of it. That’s what health and wellness is all about. It helps prepare you for life. With fitness and activity, you can continually work at it and thrive at it. Physical activity is very important. Move around. You feel better. And you’ll feel better when you’re interacting with people.”
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