Renegade Rip

Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Erik Aguilar Bakersfield College part-time student Luis Contreras finishes working out in the PHIT center.

Bakersfield College has a mission of helping its students improve their physical lifestyle. This campus is offering students fitness classes with new equipment and simple requirements, such as a simple registration and a quick orientation.
The campus offers a wide variety of athletic programs and classes for students this year from a Monday-through-Friday period.
One of the newest athletic programs, PHIT, has been recently adjusted to our college to help students improve to a new and healthier lifestyle, but it is also only dedicated to certain students.
PHIT, which stands for Preventative Health Information and Training, does not require much from students other than being enrolled in campus and paying the student health fees, as well as to be cleared by the BC Health Center for a physical check-up.
"Accessibility is always here … so far, it has only been a couple of weeks since a new semester began and about 180 students have already enrolled in the class," said Rob Slaybaugh, who is sometimes in charge of the gym and orientations. "It is always a good idea to get started in this course; it is very helpful and also inexpensive."
Classes offered at the Fitness Center are not only a step for a healthier life, but they are also an aid to obtain more credits with ease and personal physical improvement.
As Joe Seay, one of the coaches and nutritionists in the Fitness Center, said: "Most Americans are overweight, so this class is perfect for everyone who wants to enroll because we work on physical exercises, which is what people need for a better health."
Many students do not believe in working out their physical body, but as Seay said, "Dieting itself is not the best answer. In order to feel good, we need to at least walk."
According to one of the regulations in the Fitness Center, "it is the goal of students and athletes enrolled in any class in the Fitness Center, such as PHED B6FCX, to complete a quick orientation and a completion of 32 visits of an only 40 minute duration each per semester."
On these courses it is also required to maintain a positive compliance environment to make the courses and programs a commitment of excellence of Bakersfield College in every course aspect.
One of the qualities for this course is that students do not necessarily need any type of book. On the contrary, the only required material is a towel for personal care.
"I consider this class as a good thing for myself because I feel more confident because I know I am not only helping myself get physically toned, but also financially because in this course I pay about 20 percent of what I used to pay at a regular gym and I totally do the same thing," said Jessica Ruiz, a student enrolled in the program.

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