The Journal

Issue date: 11/16/06 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Ashley Heifner Students show off what they have learned during the salsa lesson Nov. 8 in the Loretto-Hilton dance studio as part of What the Health.

By Mallory Skinner


What the Health, a string of projects designed by Campus Activities to encourage students to lead more healthy and active lifestyles, began in November with on-campus water sports and salsa lessons. The program will continue throughout the academic year.

Katie McComb, Campus Activities graduate assistant, said most campus activities are social as opposed to recreational. She said What the Health will provide physical activities during which students can expend energy and release stress.

"You see a lot of programs where students can meet
one another," McComb said. "But there are very few student activities oriented toward athletics."

Campus Activities surveyed students at the Involvement Fair to see which activities they would most likely to participate in. McComb said most of the students who responded were interested in swimming. As a result, Campus Activities has implemented Thirsty Thursdays, four weeks of water sports in the University Center pool. Thirsty Thursdays began Nov. 2 with a game of water basketball. Thirsty Thursdays is held every Thursday at 9:30 p.m. in the UC pool.

Another What the Health event is a month of salsa lessons organized by the Latin American Student Organization. Seville Fletcher, a sophomore and member of Campus Activities, said LASO approached Campus Activities with the idea of salsa lessons. Campus Activities agreed to sponsor the event. Salsa lessons, each lasting an hour, will be offered at 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday until Nov. 29.

McComb said What the Health is a good way of acquainting students with Webster's facilities.

"A lot of students aren't aware of what all the University Center has to offer," McComb said. "They don't even know about the pool."

McComb said future What the Health programs may include kickboxing, aerobics and tae bo. She said Campus Activities also would like to have soccer matches every Saturday, but the success of such a program will depend on the gym's availability. McComb added, as part of What the Health, Campus Activities plans to simulate a boot camp with early morning workouts. She said the boot camp's location and type of exercise have yet to be determined.

In the 2007 spring semester, What the Health may devote a week to sex education, promoting safe sex among students. During finals week of the spring semester, McComb said What the Health will offer stress-alleviating programs, including free massages and dodgeball tournaments.

"With this program, we're aiming for health in both mind and body," McComb said.

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By Rachel Lebo


The rhythmic sound of feet shuffling across the floor, punctured by a lone voice counting the basic salsa beat, signified the free salsa lessons were in full swing.

"To dance with salsa music, you must first know the basic rhythm of salsa," said instructor Eduardo Ayala. "Songs may sound different, but when you listen closely, it is still that same pattern. You can always hear the numbers; just listen to the beat."

Sponsored by Campus Activities and the Latin American Student Organization, the salsa lessons are free to students, staff and anyone else who wants to attend. The first lesson was Nov. 9 in the large dance studio in the Loretto-Hilton Center. Fourteen people attended the first class, and approximately 25 people attended the second class.

The beginners' class consisted of the basic rhythm of salsa dancing, as well as posture, hand placement and finger positioning. For the majority of the class, everyone formed one line to learn the basic moves that go into salsa dancing without music. The most important lesson of the night was not how to dance, but to dance without inhibition.

"Don't feel shy to dance," Ayala said. "You must open up. You could have beautiful moves or techniques but no one will know if you aren't moving."

From basic back-and-forth moves to complicated spins and turns, the beginners' class learned to combine them all while dancing alone. After the first 35 minutes, the participants chose partners and their new techniques were put into practice.

"I was amazed at how many people showed up and it seemed that everyone had a great time," said senior Shaun Wall, an audio production major. "Most of us stayed after and danced for another half hour (after two hours of practice). I can't wait for next week."

Most of those who attended the first lesson stayed for the second.

Armelle Depays, Ayala's assistant in the salsa lessons, French teaching assistant and vice president of LASO, proposed to LASO the idea of group salsa lessons when several people showed interest for private salsa lessons. She contacted Ayala, who is from Mexico and asked him to teach the lessons. The lessons are a part of Campus Activitie's What the Health program.

Salsa lessons will continue from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the large dance studio in the Loretto-Hilton Center. The first hour will be a beginners' class and the second hour will be an advanced class. The last day for salsa lessons will be 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.

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