Students at Louisiana State University are rolling on the river — the lazy river, that is. As part of an $85 million renovation to health and wellness amenities, LSU recently built a lazy river in the shape of its iconic initials.

The decision was met with harsh criticism from people who believe colleges ought to just enrich the mind — especially public colleges that use taxpayer dollars. Others were adamant about turning campuses into places that actually relieves stress instead of just piling it on.

Not a “lazy” river: LSU’s major rec center expansion helping students find “a balanced life,” director says https://t.co/SRMOIEAqJC pic.twitter.com/yiG6Y6MJ1d

— The Advocate (@theadvocatebr) October 3, 2017

This build may seem excessive, but LSU was responding to a 2011 student body vote requesting a lazy river as part of its new wellness center. The big decision was made amid a national conversation on improving college student health and wellness. In its first week, the new LSU wellness center saw 22,000 visits from 8,700 students, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Indulgence or not, something is clearly working.

When it comes to improvements, colleges treat students as numbers, or as a homogenous customer base to be served with some generally acceptable improvements at the lowest cost possible. But universities must realize the huge role they play in molding the whole student, which is a responsibility that can’t be brushed off because of cost constraints. And it’s something Syracuse University should note as it moves forward with recreation renovations.

SU is following a long list of schools amping up recreational services as it plans “The Arch,” a $50 million health and wellness hub where Archbold Gymnasium stands. The Arch is expected to include a multifloor fitness center, rock climbing wall, multiactivity sports court and other improvements, according to the Campus Framework.

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A 2016 Center for Collegiate Mental Health study found that across 139 schools’ counseling centers, more than 150,000 students sought mental health treatment during the 2015-16 academic year. And these recreational resources are meant to ensure students’ safety and happiness and, of course, attract prospective students.

Mary Anne Nagy, vice president for student life and leadership engagement at Monmouth University in New Jersey, said she believes student health amenities go beyond improving student health. They can even foster student learning.

“There needs to be an investment in facilities that support student life experience because we also know that learning occurs outside of the classroom as much as it occurs inside,” Nagy said. “Having recreation centers, having places where students can meet and socialize, can work together as clubs and organizations and teams — all of that does support student learning.”

Listening to what students want is an easy way to make that happen.

As much as it appears to be an unnecessary indulgence, LSU students chose their lazy river. They took on an extra recreation fee to pay for its installation. This only furthers the notion that students want to relieve stress in an environment that inherently dictates work.

And these amenities serve a double-purpose: They represent the new.

“When I observe families and students on their tours, they’re definitely taken by the new buildings, the newer dining facility, the athletic facilities, the labs. They’re definitely taken by that,” Nagy said. “I think for some it signifies a campus that’s alive and well and strong and successful because everything is new and well cared for.”

It’s hard to say if a lazy river might be worthwhile in fostering student wellness in snowy Syracuse. Maybe there’s another, less costly way to go about it — administration, read: Saunas, masseuses on-call, massage chairs. But even if costs seem excessive, investing in resources that will make students happier, healthier and more proud to bleed orange is priceless.

Joanna Orland is a junior newspaper and online journalism major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at jorland@syr.edu.

Published on November 1, 2017 at 10:14 pm