Facilities and Programs

Physical Education (PDP) credit courses provide a structured experience in more than 100 activities, ranging from swimming and aerobics to rock climbing and downhill skiing. Noncredit instruction is also available through the Fitness, Lifestyle, Exercise, and Dance (FLEXD) Program.

Intramural sports, club sports, workshops, special events, and open recreation are offered to provide opportunities involving different levels of participation and commitment. Students are encouraged to pursue fitness activities in formats that meet their interests, abilities, and schedules.

Facilities for informal recreation are located at the Case Physical Education Center, 285 Babcock Street; the Sargent Gymnasium Building, 1 University Road; and The Shed, located at the end of Harry Agganis Way in West Campus. The Case Center includes a Cybex and free-weight room, a fitness room with cardiovascular exercise equipment, gymnasia, saunas, locker rooms, a swimming pool, a dance studio, and an ice-skating rink. Adjoining the center are tennis courts, a quarter-mile tartan track, and Nickerson Field (AstroTurf). The Sargent Gymnasium facility contains a gymnasium, a fitness center with weight training machines and cardiovascular conditioning equipment, a dance studio/theatre, and locker rooms. The Shed features a beach/sand volleyball court, three basketball courts, a Wiffle ball park/multi-purpose court, cardiovascular fitness room, rock-climbing wall, and a complete stereo sound system. Sailing and canoe docks are located on the Charles River.

George Sherman Union

In addition to the Student Center, the GSU offers a variety of services, including the Games Area, the Ziskind Lounge on the second floor, a U.S. Post Office, a bank, several dining areas, meeting rooms, a quiet study lounge on the third floor, an art gallery, and the GSU Information Center. The GSU Information Center, located on the second floor, supplies information on Union activities and sells candy, gum, and sundries.

The GSU Student Activities Office, located on the fourth floor, coordinates the activities of over 300 student organizations, student governments, and the fraternity and sorority system. In addition, the office sponsors several all-University programs, such as Homecoming, Senior Week, and Summerfest. The Student Activities Office is also responsible for providing professional services and resources on all aspects of program planning and development to student organizations. It directs the Student Leadership Development Program, which offers training workshops, educational courses, and seminars addressing leadership issues.

For further information regarding these and other George Sherman Union activities, stop by 775 Commonwealth Avenue, or phone the GSU Information Center at 617/353-2921.

Boston University Music Organizations (BUMO) provides opportunities for students to participate in musical groups while attending any of the Schools and Colleges at Boston University. These groups offer a creative outlet for students of all levels and abilities. Groups include the Marching Band, which performs at many fall events, including soccer games, the Pep Band, the All-Campus Orchestra, the Concert Band, the Jazz Ensembles, and the Symphonic Chorus. BUMO provides music and a limited number of loan instruments. The Boston University Music Organizations office is located at 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 213, Boston, MA 02215; 617/353-3358.

Boston University recognizes that spiritual development is as vital to its community as academic, cultural, physical, and social development. The University actively sponsors a wide variety of programs and options to help facilitate that development. A few of these programs are outlined below. For a more comprehensive list of religious programs and denominations served on campus, please consult the Lifebook.

Hillel is one of the largest programmers on campus and has over 20 different interest groups, including the Holocaust Education Committee, Boston University Students for Israel, a community service group, a graduate student group, a theatre group and an a cappella group, a Latin American Jewish student group, an Israeli student group, a Russian Jewish group, and more.

There are Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Shabbat services every Friday night, as well as Shabbat morning and daily services for the Orthodox minyan. All Jewish holidays are celebrated during the course of the year.

A wide variety of programs relating to Israel and contemporary moral issues take place weekly. Various minicourses--Jewish Thought, Basic Judaism, and Jewish Medical Ethics--are taught throughout the year.