BYU is an enormous institution of secular and spiritual education. Many profound and important people have attended BYU and contributed much to the world and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Despite of the ongoing successes of the university, there is one flaw with the Exercise Science department. In the General Education requirements for the university, one can choose not to take any P.E. classes and still graduate. The Department of Undergraduate Education should consider making all students, excluding disabled, to take a physical activity class in order to fulfill the graduation requirements.
As Latter-Day Saints, we believe that our bodies are temples. We are given a great privilege to have a body, so taking good care of it, is common sense. Of course, all of us know that physical activity is only beneficial to our bodies, when applied in moderation. The campus has countless number of ways one can participate in sports; there are special buildings with expensive equipment that help the students achieve their goals in getting a better health, building muscles, and gaining progress in a certain sport. However, lots of students do not even consider the option. They have their reasons, and they are well understood by the G.E. department. However, the department does not consider their health.
One the reasons the students choose not to participate in physical activities is based on their current physical condition. Whether they are just not “buff” enough, not fast enough, not strong enough, or just too busy with school are just some excuses. I thought the same as well last semester: I didn’t think that I could possibly do the weight lifting class because I don’t have big and huge muscles, and I didn’t want to look “stupid” next to the guys that have worked out for years. However, I still took the class, because I knew that it was better for my health, and the strength that I will obtain for my body.
3 comments:
I'll start by saying that i can understand your side of the argument. BYU being the religious school that it is, should ephasize the importance of personal health. However, the thought of including PE into the G.E program is not the right solution. Though we may be called students, we are not children. This is not high school anymore. If you want to help BYU students to become more physically fit, you do what the university has done: Provide the facilities, Organize intramural sport programs, and offer Physical Education classes as electives.
I have never thought of that before. I am a health nut and totally agree with your blog. I am behind you 100% for any action that you take in this regard.
to ryanj:
Yes, although we are NOT children any more, many of us still just plainly do not do anything physically productive. We're so packed with homework, that it's hard. Many just don't see the good side to working out. And it doesn't matter what age group we are, why do you think America is so obese? (and note that they are including the population of ADULTS, and not kids in those statistics). Everyone needs to be supervised on this matter, even adults!
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