June 2009 Director's Chair
Health, Wellness, and Varsity Sports
Dear Friends,
I hope your summer was restful and enjoyable. I had the great fortune to attend two days of the French Open in June and watch the incomparable Roger Federer win his first title at Roland Garros!
Watching any professional perform live – be they a musician, actor, or athlete – is one of the great treats in life. Federer hits ground strokes with so much force and so much top-spin, you are certain his shots are headed for the seats only to drop just inside the baseline at the last second. As someone who has struggled to hit a tennis ball anywhere inside the lines, I have a great appreciation for the excellence Federer displays on the court and the countless hours he must spend sharpening his skills.
Many forms of excellence have value at Oberlin College. Anyone who has ever played an instrument or sung in a choir can appreciate our world-class conservatory of music. College distribution requirements help students develop an appreciation for each of our top-notch academic disciplines. If you’re an English major who has taken a calculus course, you can better appreciate the mind of a math major. If you’re a budding scientist who also takes a course in theatre, you are better able to understand the discipline needed to play the lead in a full-length production.
We must also foster this type of relationship between our students, faculty, and staff and our varsity student-athletes. If you are a recreational runner, for example, you’ll likely develop an admiration for our varsity middle distance and distance runners, some of whom put in upwards of 80 miles per week in training. If you play recreational basketball and have struggled to find consistency in your shot, you must have appreciated Jordan Beard’s prolific three-point stroke.
A campus that promotes health and wellness serves as the foundation for all programs in athletics. When physical activity is valued in our community, varsity teams find the support and appreciation they need to thrive. The attention Oberlin College places on health and wellness for the entire campus is not at the expense of building a better, more competitive varsity program. Rather, such attention helps to build the right cultural foundation for our varsity teams to thrive over the long run … and our students, faculty, and staff will be healthier and happier as well.
Enjoy your semester, and be sure to visit Philips for a workout. Go Yeo!
Joe Karlgaard
The Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education
