2008 Woodie Awards
After-class activities enrich academic experience
Kayla Martin
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Culture
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"Our school… has as much if not more to do than the other schools and universities around us, even UT Knoxville," Nelson said.
Nelson said activities on campus available to students are intramurals, club sports, non-credit classes, outdoor activities and student organizations.
Intramural sports are social, he said. "It gives you a support system and people to hang out with," Nelson said.
Students can form their own teams or go to the campus recreation office to help with organizing a team, he added.
Club sports are other sport-based options and they provide a social network, according to Nelson.
Non-credit classes are offered for students to work out stress or purely enjoy.
Nelson said these classes include cycling, aerobics, yoga, kayaking and scuba diving.
Outdoor activities are available almost every weekend, and they are open for students to choose any of the activities they want, he said.
Student organizations are always looking for new people, Nelson said.
There are student government organizations, religious groups, fraternities and sororities, and Nelson's own favorite, the Ultimate Trivia Club.
According to Nelson, these activities help students get involved with the university and put them with other people who like the same things they do.
This creates a perfect atmosphere to make friends who have the same interests.
If students are looking for something off campus, volunteering at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen or the American Cancer Society are some options, Nelson said.
Nelson said the UTC Web site is a great place to find organizations and activities on campus.
His advice to students is to find an organization that interests them and contact them or go by the campus recreation office and get involved.
"There are people here to help you plug in to anything you want to do," Nelson said. "There is something going on all of the time, but they have to take the first step."
The Web site is popular with Laura Cagle, a Dandridge, Tenn., sophomore.
