August 14, 2008

Recreational Sports and Services plans ‘Res 2 Rec’

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- As the fall 2008 semester opens at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the University’s Recreational Sports and Services is kicking into high gear.

In recent weeks, RSS, as it’s most often known, has helped coordinate training for residence assistants and other staff, collaborated with the numerous other campus facilities and organizations to get things going smoothly and kept busy planning major activities coming soon.

Res 2 Rec is the new name for the bigger-than-ever event previously called Sports Fest. Set for Aug. 24, the event’s new moniker represents the significance of the intramural fest in which students in University Housing begin to “live together and play together,” said Sally Wright, assistant director of RSS.

The fun begins at noon on the fields near the SIU Arena. Outdoor activities run until 6 p.m. Along with athletic games and competitions, large inflatables will be on-site. The competition, fun and games move inside the Student Recreation Center from 6 to 11 p.m. Rounding out the action is a free poolside movie at the center at 9 p.m. Wright said there will be more games, tournaments and activities than ever before. Getting there from across campus is easy, as buses will run every 30 minutes from the area near Lentz Hall to the Recreation Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.

RSS is also finalizing plans for the ever-popular Ultimate Saluki Challenge Oct. 3-5. Patterned after television’s “Survivor” series, it’s a chance for 20 SIUC students to test their mettle and win great prizes while enjoying a weekend of great competition, fun and camaraderie, Wright said.

RSS offers a wide variety of services, facilities and activities. The Student Recreation Center includes aquatics programs, Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation programs for special populations, a wide variety of instructional programming from martial arts to dance and beyond, as well as group and personal fitness classes and equipment of all kinds. There also are many sport clubs and numerous intramural sports leagues and tournaments, therapeutic massage, fitness evaluations, personal training, a sport shop and outdoor adventures too. Campus beach, the boat docks, lighted tennis courts and more are part of the huge repertoire that is Recreational Sports and Services.

Wright said coming months will bring new faces and new opportunities to RSS. New lockers, enhanced security and more are on tap too. For more information about SIUC Recreational Sports and Services, check out the newly redesigned Web site at www.reccenter.siu.edu or call 618/536-5531.