I want to take some time today and move away from the routine talk-about-something-that-happened-over-the-weekend column and discuss an issue on campus I believe is very important.This issue has the potential to affect everyone on campus, but for the most part has largely stayed out of discussing among students and faculty.
I am talking about the elimination of the PE Activity Program here at UW-Madison.
At the end of this semester, the PE Activity Program will no longer exist. This program is responsible for all the sports-based classes including soccer, basketball, tennis and hockey along with fitness-based classes such as weight training and marathon running.
As a result of the massive budget cuts the University of Wisconsin System and UW-Madison were faced with over the past couple of years, the Department of Kinesiology and the School of Education decided to cut the entire program to comply with the new budget.
I understand the department was forced to cut back its spending, but sentencing the PE Activity Program to death was not the right decision; it was dead wrong.
Students take these courses for a variety of different reasons: to learn a new activity, to get into better shape physically, to enjoy the competition or even just to earn the one credit. But whatever the reason, those who take these classes come away from them with skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
Multiple studies have been conducted which show a relationship between physical education courses and overall health and well-being of students.
Not only are students who take these courses healthier and more fit than their peers, research suggests even five-plus years after college, the difference in health is still visible.
Now, some people will claim students who take these classes are healthier because those who are already fit are more likely to take physical education courses. There is some truth to this argument but I have witnessed many situations where this case is not true. The students who take these classes come from every level of fitness.
Another argument, one made by the Department of Kinesiology, is that the Department of Recreational Sports does the same thing as the PE Activity Program does, so students will go to Rec Sports in absence of the program.
That is far from the truth.
Yes, there is some overlap between what the PE Activity Program and what Rec Sports does, but it is only skin deep. There are two key differences between that set the PE Activity Program above Rec Sports.
First, the level of instruction in the PE Activity Program is much higher. The instructors in the program have years of experience and are all experts in the fields they teach. For example, David Supple, the ice skating instructor, has taught skating at UW-Madison for 20 years.
Looking at the fitness instructors at the SERF or Nat, there is no comparison. I do not mean to put down the job theses instructors do, I know a couple of them personally and I do not doubt they do a wonderful job. But if I had to choose between someone with over 20 years of experience or someone who likely has only a year or two and is also a student, it is clear which way I would go.
The other difference is in what is actually offered by each. The PE Activity Program offers sports-based classes and fitness-based classes. However, Rec Sports only offer fitness classes which often require an additional fee. There is no sports instruction at all. Yes, there are intramural sports, but there is no instruction.
A week ago Tuesday I had my last ice hockey class of the semester. Not only was it the last class of the semester, it was the last class ever.
These classes play an important role in teaching fitness skills and activities that will be carried for the rest of student’s lives. It is painful to think such an important program will cease to exist in three short weeks and there has been very little outcry from the student body.
It may be too late to save this program, but I believe if we as a student body start to come together and petition the school about the importance of these classes, we can get the ball moving on bringing back a PE Activity Program in the future.
What do you think about UW cutting PE classes? Let Matt know at sports@dailycardinal.com
