LPAP program in need of addressing overcrowding issues

By Staff Editorial     2/14/12 6:00pm

The Lifetime Physical Participation Activity Program has proved itself to be about as inefficient as its burdensome name. Fortunately, some much-needed change is forthcoming to the program (See story, pg. 1). Four proposals have been offered to the student body to vote upon, and these ideas range from abolishing the program to maintaining the status quo.

The Thresher believes that the goals of the program are worthwhile, and the program serves an important purpose. However, LPAP overcrowding needs to be addressed in several ways. Primarily, the LPAP requirement for athletes needs to be lifted. Overexerting varsity athletes and placing them at risk of injury off the field is simply unacceptable, and this mandate should be lifted. The same logic can be applied to club athletes; however, verification of student participation and activity in club sports could be difficult. If the LPAP requirement for club athletes is lifted, there should be a system implemented in which faculty affiliates or team captains must track the participation of students who opt to participate in club sports for LPAP credit. This change to the LPAP program would not only give our athletes a bit of much-needed rest, but also decrease the number of students attempting to enroll in an LPAP by more than 10 percent.

The administration should also consider expanding the number of available LPAP classes. While hiring new instructors is not fiscally reasonable, the university could allow student-taught LPAPs and S.W.E.A.T. classes to count toward LPAP credit. This would help to decrease the number of overfilled LPAP classes, and it would give students an even more diverse array of options for LPAP courses. As a result of the increased supply of classes, each LPAP class could have slotted spots for each grade. This would ensure that each student's LPAP experience is integrated with the whole undergraduate community.

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The LPAP program is an important part of the curriculum which encourages students to stay fit and explore new avenues of physical activity. However, the current program places an unnecessary burden on athletes and is too crowded to be effective. By relieving athletes of LPAP requirements and expanding LPAP offerings, this program can return to a high level of functionality.

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