The university kicked off their 10th anniversary for the Student Recreation Center yesterday with a hearty welcome by Romayne Eaker-Kelly, the director of Campus Recreation.
Students, faculty, alumni and guests mingled. Festivities included the cutting of the anniversary cake, raffle prizes and the appearance of Rocky the Red Hawk.
For freshmen and transfer students coming to the university, the Student Recreation Center is an exciting building to explore. Mily Vargas, a freshman family science and human development major, couldn’t hold in her excitement for the event.
“I like the diversity here and its really nice to see students have opportunities available to them on campus, for example, jobs which allow you to connect with your student community,” Vargas said.
Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life Dr. Karen Pennington introduced the speaker of the hour: the university’s President Susan Cole.
Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole speaks to the audience about the rec center’s 10th anniversary.
Tiffany Baskerville | The Montclarion
Cole, who has been the president of Montclair State since 1998, publicly expressed how the student government on campus approached her and Pennington with a vision on the need to build a rec center on campus.
The Panzer Athletic Center has been the home to Montclair State Athletics as well as the past student rec center, which according to Cole was stressful to manage.
“With the growing numbers of incoming undergraduate students coming into Montclair State and the athletic students, including physical education classes all operating in the Panzer building,” Cole said. “As you can imagine, it did not fit.”
This is the primary reason the university decided to listen to the voice of the students and really adhere to their motto, “It’s all here.”
Rocky the Red Hawk helps students sign in to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the rec center.
Tiffany Baskerville | The Montclarion
Since then, the Student Recreation Center has established and created an atmosphere where everyone is treated with dignity, acceptance and common admiration.
From the many programs the rec center offers, such as group exercise, club sports, special events, outdoor adventures and its fully equipped state of the art structure and equipment, the facility has remained an integral part of campus life.
Rocky the Red Hawk strikes a pose at the Student Recreation Center’s 10th Anniversary. Tiffany Baskerville | The Montclarion
