NEW WELLNESS CENTER OPENS
Vivian room designed with women in mind; Momentum building for more improvements posted 10/25/05

Students pour into the wellness center after President Docking opens it up to campus for the first time on Oct. 20.

A new fitness room at Adrian College is bringing a whole new workout to campus.

The Jack and Elaine Vivian Wellness Center opened for use in the Merillat Sport & Fitness Center on Oct. 20. It is outfitted with 10 treadmills, eight elliptical machines and two recumbent bicycles. Each of these stations includes a 13-inch LCD television connected to a satellite dish that provides 15 channels. Plug your headphones in and watch whatever channel you want. The room also contains a set of 13 circuit-training machines, and is wired with FM radio in stereo sound.

The purpose of the room is to provide fitness options besides the weight room, which provides only a specific kind of workout and is sometimes perceived as intimidating. In particular, the room is designed to be more user-friendly for women, although it will also provide great options for men.

The room is named in honor of Jack and Elaine Vivian, who provided the funding that made the project possible. Vivian is a 1966 graduate of Adrian, and is a trustee.

A formal dedication for the room is being planned later, when Vivian can attend.

The approximate cost of the project was $120,000.

The wellness center is one of a series of changes under Jeffrey Docking, the new president. His energy and enthusiasm have caught on across campus and beyond. Discussions are underway on several significant ways to improve the overall quality of student life.

President Docking addresses students before using his key to unlock the door for them.

Docking and other administrators throw out T-shirts and water bottles at the opening. They were provided by Nautilus, who the president credited in his address for providing the equipment for the room.