The Department of Recreational Services here at ULM has one primary goal, “to provide recreation and wellness programs to the university community and to support development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and total well being.”

The ULM Activity Center (AC), a branch of recreational services, does just that.

In 1987, the student body at ULM voted to put funds towards a recreational facility and in 1993, their dream became a reality. The AC is a place where the community and school body can connect. Alums talk with student workers about changes that have come to the university. However, there is always fondness when talking of their alma mater.

“Change can be a good thing, I think,” Philip Dampier said. Dampier and his wife, Martha, are both ULM alums and have been coming to the AC for over 20 years. He said he has seen a lot of change take place over the course of those 20 years, for the university and the AC itself.

“I have met some of my closest friends here at the AC,” Dampier said. When a friend of his, and another AC participant, had a stroke, Dampier went to visit with him regularly and kept the people at the AC updated on his condition. 

Dampier says that he and his wife try to come walk the track every week-day.  “It is a nice environment, people say hello when you walk in and really mean it,” he said.

The AC includes five regulation basketball courts, as well as 24 goals total. Racket ball, another popular pastime, has six individual courts for gaming. The track is located on the second floor and is 1/6^th the size of a normal regulation track. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of the different activities available.

An Athletic Business article by Emily Attwood says, “From the first weight rooms, fitness evolved into what many consider the Big Three — free weights, selectorized machines and cardio equipment — and today, many recognize a fourth dimension.”

The fourth, and newest, area is referred to as functional training. According to the article, people are looking to personalize their workouts. The AC has an entire room dedicated to aerobic workouts and even offers group exercise classes like Zumba and ab training for participants.

For those who like privacy, participants can take equipment into the multipurpose room to workout instead. As long as all equipment is returned to its proper place, participants are free to use the stretch bands, jump ropes, bosu balls and yoga mats for personalized workouts.

When entering the AC, there will be a lobby to the left and an office to the right. If anyone has questions, the office is one place to get them answered.  The lobby is an area where people can eat and watch television with friends. The lobby is often used for Greek life events and work meetings.

The AC hosts several events over the course of the semester. Carnival Night was a success during last semester’s Spring Fever Week. Students came to the AC to play games, win prizes, eat tasty food and hang out with friends. This Summer, the AC was used for PREP’s Activity Marketplace. The marketplace helps get future ULM students familiar with all of the student run organizations available on campus.  

Students at ULM taking four, or more, credit hours can get into the AC for free, because the fee has been covered in tuition costs. Students with less than four credit hours and eULM students must pay $60 a semester.

Charles Hollis, a senior graphic design major says he worked at the AC until moving to a different job. “It was a nice job. I got along pretty well with everyone,” Hollis said.

“As just a student now, it’s nice to see the familiar faces of people I used to work with when coming to the AC,” he said.

There are guidelines in place for participants to follow. Recently, sleeveless shirts have been taken off the list of prohibited items. For instance, no outside food or drink can be brought into the AC, unless the person is in the lobby.  The AC is tobacco-free. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes. Dunking while playing basketball will result in being kicked out of the building and a suspension from the AC.

The ULM Activity Center is located at 210 Warhawk Way, and can be found situated between the new Laird-Weems Alumni Center and the Malone football stadium.