Student Resources Column: The Student Life Center

SLC's pool, photo by Kevianna Hawkins-Adams. On the upper side of West Kawili Street, next to the Vulcan basketball stadium, students can find the Student Life Center. The center offers a space for students to work on their health and fitness as well as a space for social interactions.

The Student Life Center was created in 2008, after students voiced their desires for a recreational space on par with the one on UH Mānoa’s campus. The center’s mission, as stated on their website, is to “enhance the quality of life and build the campus community by educating and encouraging participation in activities that promote healthy lifestyles, social interactions, and leadership skills.”

SLC's weight lifting section, photo by Kevianna Hawkins-Adams. The center provides a space for students to work on their fitness and health, socialize, and reduce their stress. Students that use the center can “achieve better in school by having more energy and less sick days,” Tim Moore, executive director of Campus Recreation, stated. The Student Life Center offers many facilities including a weight and fitness area, two multipurpose rooms with mirrors, a 50 meter pool, locker rooms, a sand volleyball court, and a basketball court. The center’s main lobby also offers WiFi, a TV, and places for students to study. Unfortunately the main lobby is not currently open as a hang out space due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Because the center was made for students, it is also run in part by students. Aside from the Campus Recreation staff that overlook and run the center, students are the main employees within the center’s facilities.

As Moore explained, “the majority of [the center’s] budget goes to student employment.” This includes students working as building staff, intramural staff, outdoor adventure staff, and lifeguards. These student employment opportunities allow students to gain leadership skills and facilitate faculty and student interactions.

The gym and cardio section of the Student Life Center, photo by Kevianna Hawkins-Adams. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the center has moved to using a reservation system in which students can reserve an hour and a half in one of the center’s facilities. Students can choose to use the pool or the indoor workout room, but the center closes after every time slot to sanitize the facilities for 30 minutes. Students can log on to the Campus Recreation website to sign up for a time slot between 6:30am and 8pm on weekdays, or 12pm and 6pm on weekends.

“We are hopeful that COVID-19 restrictions will relax in the spring so that we can offer more face-to-face programs, such as intramurals, outdoor adventure programs, and group fitness classes,” said Moore.