Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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HPER Means Quality Students have free access to one of the best physical fitness centers in the Mid-South JLJy some students, the campus ' HPER complex is actually thought to be a residence hall for hyperac- tive students. Well, what they don ' t know could sur- prise them. The HPER com- plex is really the facility which houses the depart- ment of health, physical education and recreation. The building, built in 197 1 , is a real quality facil- ity through which over a thousand students a day travel, according to HPER ' s division head Wayne Gutch. Nearly half of these students use the facilities in the building for the bet- terment of their health and other recreational pur- poses. The building houses two full-sized gymnasiums, nine air-conditioned rac- queiball and handball courts, an indoor swim- ming pool, a free-weight room, a well-equipped Nau- tilus room. It is adjacent to 21 tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool. The HPER complex is also used as a training ground for the women ' s volleyball team, the swim team and other club sports. In addi- tion, the department offers leisure classes, organized intramural and club sports and special clinics in the Nautilus room. The complex is open for free usage by all full-time students every day of the week, with the exception of the pool, which is closed on Mondays. Part-time stu- dents and guests of stu- dents may use the facility for only $1.50. The community may also make use of the complex by buying a fitness program membership for $175.00 per semester. Gutch says, We would have the cheapest country club in the city, if we only had a quality locker room, a food service and some whirl- pools. The amazing thing Physical fitness is a growing concern for many people. HPER provides faculty and students with the equipment needed to get back into shape. Steve Riley takes a short break in the Nautilus weight room, which is con- sidered one of the best Nau- tilus centers in the Mid-South. Devin Greaney about this facility is that il receives no part of the activ- ity fee paid by students every semester. It is totally funded through income re- ceived from usage fees, state funds and private con- tributions. The HPER complex is also host to several tour- naments including two major racquetball tour- naments, four large swim meets, a local tennis tour- nament and a karate tour- nament. The largest ol these, however, is the hand- ball tournament which is recognized by the U.S. Handball Association as being one of the best in the nation. Club teams sponsored by HPER are the fencing team, bowling team, karate team, volleyball team, women ' s soccer team and rugby team. The remaining two club teams, racquetball and handball, are both de- fending national champi- ons. Students may partici- pate in one of 30 intramural sports and activities which are also sponsored by the department. According to Gutch, the m ost popular intramural sports are touch football, basketball, softball and volleyball. An intramu- ral advisoiy board decides which of the intramural sports to offer based on suggestions and participa- tion, says intramural de- partment head, Jim Vest. He adds, ' The real back- bone of the intramural pro- gram is the group of student team managers. The Ech- les soccer field, located be- hind McCord and Browning pape,P6 tales of tigers

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through an interviewing process, in which she showed as much enthusi- asm as possible. Her atti- tude did, indeed, win her a spot on the show, as well as a pink, two-seater boat. Although her luck did not hold out long enough to get her through the Showcase Showdown, she walked away smiling. The people with Trice Is Right ' said I would get the boat no later than three months after the air date (Oct. 19). Every time the doorbell rang after the air date, I raced to the door to see if it had arrived, Worthington said. A white boat, not the pink, did ar- rive in December, and she had to pay $80 in California taxes for it. While other students may not be as lucky as Worthington has been, they enjoy playing along with the TV shows. Although many have professed to being diehard Wheel watchers, another popular game show is the ever challenging Jeopardy. Marty Edwards watches Jeopardy when he ' s not working. He and a few of his friends get together at the Lambda Chi Alpha frater- nity house. A lot of times he says they ' ll make a game within a game by seeing who can get the answer first and keeping track of dollar amounts. Although Ed- wards watches the Price is Right between classes, he prefers Jeopardy, which he claims let ' s your brain work a little bit. Many students can be found late at night in their rooms playing the home version of the game. How can one tell if someone plays Jeopardy? Simple Jeopardy players speak jeopardise, which is the ability to phrase an answer in the form of a question, according to show host Alex Trebek. Game shows are some- times silly, sometimes chal- lenging and always fun. While some students wish to be on these shows, others are doing it. And Tracy Worthington? Since she has been in both situations, isn ' t that enough? It isn ' t for her. My next attempt is at High Rollers, ' she says with a smile. ■ Missy Smith Between classes, Marty Edwards sometimes likes to watch the Price is Right. His favorite gameshow, though, is Jeopardy which he says let ' s your brain work a little bit. Serge Samaha Is it worth the pain to be a star for only an hour? Ask Tracy Worthington and shell probably say it is. Appear- ing on the Price is Right in October she won a brand new boat. Serge Samaha gameshows

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halls, is considered to be the intramural depart- ment ' s outdoor field. The complex ' s facilities, which the HPER depart- ment is the proudest of, are the Nautilus and free- weight training rooms. The Nautilus room has taken nearly five years to justify, organize and complete; but it is also considered by many to be the finest colle- giate Nautilus facility in the United States. The depart- ment is presently trying to add electronic bicycles and treadmills to the Nautilus collection and to update the weight room. Gutch says, One of the primary goals is to keep that room [Nautilus] in its present rank of prestige. We want to be on top, on the cutting edge. We will definitely not let it fall apart. Another goal is to bring our free- weight room up to the same standard of the Nautilus room. The HPER department wants to better the facility for the students. One proj- ect of the department is the purchase of new pool equip- ment, which hasn ' t been replaced since the pool ' s opening. The department also dreams of someday justifying the construction of an indoor track. Gutch says the Nautilus room came about through the same sort of hope. If you don ' t dream a little and work towards that goal, you will never get anything ac- complished. Gutch says the success of the complex is due to his Taking a breather. Patty Fletcher comes up for air while she takes a swim at the HPER complex. HPER has both indoor and out- door Olympic-sized pools for swimming classes and recreation. An additional feature is a small outdoor diving pool, which has both high and low diving boards. Devin Greaney staff and the students. We have a highly trained and competent staff who is always in the equip- ment rooms and available to assist the students. And I really believe that if you give the students something quality, they will appreciate and re- spect it. ■ Scott Harrison 27 hper