Campus Rec striving to become 'elite'

The Campus Recreation Program at Winston-Salem State is working diligently to become an elite HBCU program.

WSSU has seven components for its Campus Recreation Program: Club Sports, adventure trips, special events, open recreation, campus fitness, intramural sports, and the RAM Zone.

Dash McNeil, the director of Campus Recreation, came to WSSU seven years ago.

"Before I came here, there was definitely room for improvement," McNeil said.

The RAM Zone now has carpet, lounge chairs, flat screens, ping pong tables and multiple game systems including PS3 and Wii. McNeil has organized three renovations, replaced folding chairs, televisions, and pool tables.

"I like the new systems and updated games that the RAM Zone offers," said Darryl "Flash" Pulliam, a junior sports management major from Wilmington, N.C.

The program offers open recreation for students and staff. The three areas available are the swimming pool, Whitaker Gym and The Pit. "Whitaker Gym and The Pit are great ways to meet people when it's warm outside," said Alton Keaton, a senior accounting major from Fayetteville.

The swimming pool [located in the C.E. Gaines complex] is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for students. Faculty and staff have open access Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Special events are planned by Campus Recreation for students and faculty throughout the year. Upcoming events include bowling night March 23;  student/staff softball game April 7; and skate night April 13.  Students, faculty and staff are required to sign up for events.

Transportation is provided for students.

Adventure trips are all off-campus activities like skiing, horseback riding and whitewater rafting. Students have to pay for these trips. The department has planned three trips so far this year. The last trip is a fishing trip to Calabash, N.C.

"The trips that are offered by Campus Recreation are great ways of meeting new people and something fun to do with my friends," said Kanika Washington, a freshman nursing major from Richmond, Va.

"Not many HBCU's have programs like we offer at WSSU," McNeil said.