By RINDY METCALF

Staff Writer

For more than 26 years, senior citizens have been involved in the senior exercise program provided by the university.

Gail Clark, coordinator of the senior exercise program and an associate professor of health and exercise sciences, said the program is a unique experience for its participants and the Ruston area.

"Not many states have a program like this," Clark said.

Clark said the senior citizens exercise program allows individuals to exercise in a class setting at the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center, located on Tech Drive. The classes also exercise at the M.S. Carroll Natatorium, located next to the IDEA Place, under the instruction of a health and exercise sciences professor or intern.

Clark said state legislation was passed in 1977 that enabled senior citizens to take classes on college campuses and take advantage of the opportunities traditional students have.

"State legislation waives the tuition costs for people over 55," Clark said. "Schools around the area just don't take advantage of it."

Clark said though senior citizens do not have to pay tuition, they are required to pay instruction, energy and parking fees.

"They now pay $54 a quarter for instruction, a $20 one-time application fee and a $12-a-year parking fee," Clark said.

Clark also said since the senior citizens are registered, they can also get a student ID, which enables them to check out books in Prescott Memorial Library, attend entertainment events at the student price and use many of the other facilities on campus.

"They are considered to be students at the university," Clark said. "We register and take care of the paperwork for them so all they have to do is pay the fees and show up."

Emily Eoff, a junior kinesiology and health promotions major, said she began working practicum, a pre-internship program, in the 9 to 10 a.m. basic exercise course at the beginning of fall quarter.

"[In class] they do weightlifting exercises, rubber band exercises for resistance and low-intensity aerobic exercises to music for 30 minutes," Eoff said.

"For the other 30 minutes they walk laps around the gym, use the bikes, lift weights or whatever they want to do."

Eoff said as part of her practicum, she assists during the class by leading the workout, walking with the students and by teaching the class a few times.

Eoff also said the program is good for seniors because they have an opportunity to exercise in a family atmosphere, and it is great for their bodies.

"It's great for them to get out and build the muscle mass to do daily activities," Eoff said.

Mabel Temple, a Ruston resident, began a water exercise course in the summer of 1984 and has participated in the exercise program ever since.

Temple said she takes the basic exercise class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall, winter and spring quarters and the aerobic water exercise class during the summer.

"I think it's good for me and I really enjoy it," Temple said.

Temple also said participating in the program is good because it gives the students a chance to meet and talk with people they would not ordinarily meet.

"The people in class are usually the first people we see in the morning, so it's really good for fellowship," Temple said.

"That is really important to a lot of the people in class."