var uslide_show_id = “224a9318-c923-42de-b5d1-026f01514942”;var slideshowwidth = “468”;var linktext = “”;

Beacon Fitness Center

In the bowels of McCormick lies a place where you can run, pump iron, socialize with friends and get fit to boot. On the first floor, just past the overpriced soda and snack machines, you will find the Beacon Fitness Center.

The Beacon Fitness Center has been a staple for many diehard health nuts and folks looking to get their booties in shape, but all too many people don’t know about the hidden gem, which is completely free with your current student ID. “To obtain a membership, students only need a current semester sticker and [to] fill out the application,” says Hasan Bailey, the Health and Fitness Program Manager at the Beacon Fitness Center.

Even staff, faculty and alumni of UMB can partake in all the Fitness Center has to offer. “Staff and faculty complete an application, Alumni need to obtain an Alumni Relations card from Quinn and complete the application, too. The cost for staff, faculty and alumni is $190.00 per year,” Bailey explains. Not too bad when considering the average gym membership can cost you upwards of $600 per year, without the convenient campus location.

The fitness center sports treadmills, stair climbers, dumbbells and anything else you’ll need to meet your fitness goals. “The Center carries various brands of free weights, circuit training machines and cardiovascular equipment,” Bailey notes. So whether you’re looking to tone up or just to get your heart pumping, there is something for everyone at the Fitness Center.

If group exercise and socialization are more your fitness approach, the facility also offers a variety of intramural and recreational activities along with fitness classes. The center is home to squash, racquetball, table tennis and dodgeball tournaments. Instruction classes include Yoga, Total Body Conditioning, or you can get your butt in gear with Boot Camp.

In addition to exercise equipment and group fitness classes, the Beacon Fitness Center also has lots of other services to offer including fitness assessments, fitness consultations and personal training. If you are interested in any of these services, see a staff member; for $25.00 you can have a fitness assessment, six training sessions, and a post-training session.

So stop by the Beacon Fitness Center to take a look if you haven’t done so. Talk to some of the staff, walk around and see the equipment and grab a membership application on your way out. It’s just one of the many services you didn’t know about here at UMB!

Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday:

6 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday:

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Center will be open regular hours during Spring Break, however it will be closed on April 21 for Patriot’s Day.

Clark Center

Swimming Pool

“Wait, we have a pool?” UMB sophomore Kenny Hill replied when asked if he has seen or used the pool in the Clark Athletic Center. “Like, a real pool?” fellow sophomore Leslie Bancewicz chimed in.

“A lot of people ask about it,” David Marsters, Jr., UMB Department of Athletics IT and Special Events representative, responded. “The pool is pretty big; it spans from 4 feet to 12.5 feet at its deepest end, with 1 meter and 3 meter diving boards.” The pool also boasts 25 meter lanes for those interested in swimming laps. There are also locker rooms for both men and women in the facility.

So who can use the pool? “Any student with a valid UMass Boston ID, as well as those with valid Community Membership IDs [are] able to use the pool,” Marsters explains.

The pool’s lap schedule can be found on the Clark Center’s website, which changes based upon swim meets and other events. A new feature of the swimming pool that the Clark Center is offering is swimming lessons for novice and beginner swimmers. “That’s great,” said junior Joe Kembi. “It’s definitely important for people to know how to swim and to be able to maneuver in the water, in case they are ever in danger.”

Interested students can find more information on the Clark Athletic Center online at http://www.athletics.umb.edu or contact a representative directly at 617-287-7820. It’s just one of the many perks of being a student at UMB, so grab your suit and head over to the pool to check it out and to take a dip.

Clark Center Ice Rink

Perhaps a little more well-known than the phantom pool is the ice rink, located in the Clark Athletic Center. The ice rink is open only to students with a valid UMB ID or to community members with appropriate identification. The rink is home to the UMass Boston Women’s and Men’s Hockey Teams, which play and practice on the ice. Consider coming to see a game to check out the facility and to cheer on your fellow Beacons.

Looking for a way to have some fun and get some exercise while your at it? The ice rink is also open for general skating for UMass Boston students.

“We offer general skating during times when other teams are not playing or practicing. There is no ice hockey allowed at this time, and unfortunately, the department doesn’t offer skates to use, so students must provide their own,” says Masters.

And students are taking note: “I went there [for general skating] once with my boyfriend, and we had a blast. It was a lot of fun and really convenient that it was right here on the Point, so we didn’t have to travel far,” UMB student Jenny DiGregorio attests. General skating is available Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. -3 p.m., though Marsters suggests checking the Department’s website for updated schedules. “The schedule is posted every Monday and may change with the addition of youth team rentals or rescheduled hockey games or practices,” he says. An up-to-date schedule can be found on the rink’s website, or by calling the Center.

It’s a fun way to kill an hour or two between classes, or to have a nice relaxing run around the ice before plopping down to study for your tests; just be sure to bring your mittens, as the place is, predictably, freezing!

Both the swimming pool and the ice rink are free-of-change for UMass Boston students with a current student ID, but both facilities can also be rented out to external organizations for an additional fee. To schedule an ice or pool time, or for more information, contact a department representative. Have fun!