6
Friday, October 17, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Intramurals program expanding
Outside the intramural office the halls were packed with students waiting for Tom Wilkerson, recreation coordinator, to open the doors. It was close to 1:00 p.m. and it was the last day to sign up for co-led volleyball.
Wilkerson opened the door and 15 students marched in. Sound a little unsaucy? It's just an example of the way the intramurals program has grown this year.
"We've had a great response." Wayne Osness, chairman of the health, physical education and recreation department, said yesterday. "The students have really been participating and getting involved in our programs."
"The people who ran the program before did a good job," Osness said. "It's just that the way we reorganized the program has made it better." The work full time. They've really got it going."
Oweness said that one of the major reasons for the growth was the reorganization of the firm.
Wilkerson and Rich Marcks, the director of intramurals, were added to the staff this year. Bob Lockwood, instructor of physical education and men's gymnastics coach, and Claire McEliroy, instructor of physical education and women's swimming coach,
handled the intramural program in the east.
Wilkerson said that there had been at least a 25 per cent increase in the number of participants. There has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of teams, he said.
Publicity was a big reason for the growth of the program, Osness said. The students know when the various sports are starting, but they don't miss the signup deadline.
Wilkerson said that the department had spent a lot of time working on publicity for intramurals. A new calendar of all the activities and an information telephone line (Recinfo) have been the two best ways the programs have been publicized, he said
The Recinfo number is 864-3456 and it gives students daily intramural game times, the facilities available and the hours these facilities can be used. It also informs students of the games that have been rained out.
"We've already had roughly 2,500 calls," and this is only the third week in October.
Ourselves said that the budget increase for the intramural program, growth in another reef, and new research.
Last Wednesday the student Senate
Sports Committee approved a $23,024 recommendation for the intramurals program. The allocation increased the amount given to intramurals from the activity fee from 65 cents per student to $1.05 per student.
New facilities have aided the program consti-
erately, Ossness said. The new fields at
22rd and Iowa streets and the addition of
a new track and basketball courts in Allen
Field House have given the program more
space with which to work.
With an increase in facilities came an increase in the number of programs. There are 13 men's intramural sports, 14 women's and eight co-activities this year. This is for an indoor and outdoor track meet, and many of the co-activets, Wikerson said.
"These co-eed activities have been real successful," Wilkerson said. "We've had mixed tennis doubles play three different weekends this fall and it was real successful. We even plan to try to have co-ed softball in the spring."
Wilkerson said that there would be new programs every year. The job of the intramural department is to respond to the student's needs, he said.
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