Dana Students Receive Discounted YMCA Memberships

By Christina Backus

        Due to popular demand Dana College now offers YMCA memberships to all full-time students.  At the start of the 2006 school year embedded in the students’ tuition is a prepaid payment to the Blair YMCA.

        Matt Thielen, dean of students, said that the memberships were driven by student surveys over the past three years.  The surveys are used to gauge student satisfaction with Dana’s programs and facilities.  With cooperation between the YMCA and Dana and with the help of the student senate the memberships became a reality.

       The memberships at the YMCA are just like other memberships that the YMCA offers.  According to Sarah Davis, director of memberships at the YMCA, Dana’s memberships cover all aerobic classes, access to the pool, hot tub, sauna, and the right to use the gymnasium and fitness room.  Students also receive discounted rates on all other programs.

        There are many things that the YMCA provides for students that Dana isn’t able to offer. Jill Connot says she attends the YMCA about three times a week because the overall atmosphere puts her in the mood to workout.  It also gives her an opportunity to get off campus for awhile.  She chooses the YMCA over the Dana weight-room because they offer more exercise equipment, and she doesn’t have to worry about being in the way of athletic teams.           

The YMCA has definitely noticed an increase of Dana students.  So far Davis said that there have not been any problems with the increased usage of the facility.  Students and members have been finding their own times when they are able to get their workouts in and avoid crowded periods.

If Dana students take advantage of the memberships they truly get their money’s worth.  Full-time students pay $100 a school year.  The YMCA’s student membership rate is $23 a month or $267.75 for a full year.  If students purchased their own memberships for nine months they would have to pay $207. 

The memberships are only valid throughout the school year, and they can be used at other YMCAs in the area.  If students are staying in Blair over the summer they are able to purchase monthly memberships at the student rate.  By having YMCA memberships available for students Dana is meeting students’ interests.  Connot and other students who use the facility regularly believe that the discounted price that the YMCA offers is reasonable, and the equipment and facilities available are an even greater advantage to Dana students.