Eastern Michigan University attracts more people than just students looking for a higher education. EMU's campus offers Ypsilanti High School students a place to hang out and enjoy recreational activities during after school hours.
Ypsilanti Township does not have the funding to provide teens with recreational activities, as well as many families are budgeted to the last penny, therefore also unable to supply teens the ability to partake in sports/extracurricular activities in school. So, where do teens go? Eastern Michigan University. The university is less than a 5 minute drive from Ypsilanti High School, providing the teens with an accessible place to gather with their friends without the proximity of their community.
What does Eastern have to offer high school teens? EMU's campus provides six lighted outdoor tennis and four basketball courts which were installed along Park Road in 1990. Both courts provide outdoor recreation for the community as well as a home for fall intramural athletics at EMU. Gehman Field, the home of the EMU softball team was installed in 1990. The complex underwent a major face lift after the 2002 season and now boasts two refinished dugouts, a press box and new outfield fencing. Enclosed outdoor batting cages with two pitching circles were also added behind the left-field fence. One of the last features added to the new University Commons building was an indoor climbing wall that simulates rock climbing. The structure 42 feet in height offers three sections of varying difficulty. Trained student assistants help users ascend the wall. Physical education professor Lester Zook, who spearheaded the project, says the rock wall prepares students for rock climbing on nearby mountains. EMU also offers high school students the use of the Fitness Center at a low rate of $35 per month, opposed to the majority of fitness gyms that overcharge into the $100's.
EMU stands behind their mission statement: "We extend our commitment beyond the campus boundaries to the wider community through service initiatives and partnerships of mutual interest addressing local, regional, national and international opportunities and challenges."
Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my1cMMy13sI
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