Non-students can purchase membership from Ping for $335 annually.
Students might be surprised to find their professor or another non-student running on a treadmill next to them while working out at Ping Center.
But it’s not as uncommon as students think.
From July 1, 2014 to June 30, Ping made $38,000 from its 304 non-student members, Mark Ferguson, executive director of Campus Recreation, said.
Ping opens its doors to adult non-students for $335 annually and at a discounted price of $275 for children 17 and under and OU faculty and staff members, according to the facilities website. Another option for Athens residents are local gyms such as the Athens Community Center and WellWorks in Grover Center. WellWorks is open to OU employees, their families and Athens area residents who are not OU undergraduate students, according to its website.
“There’s more equipment, the hours are more convenient and (the) location is more convenient,” Nathan Anderson, who is the operations director at OU’s Office of Annual Giving and has a membership to Ping, said.
Audrey Dlugosz, a sophomore studying business, said she has seen professors when she works at Ping, and she doesn’t mind sharing the space.
Some other students said it doesn’t bother them that non-students workout in Ping.
“It’s no big deal,” Derek Edwards, a senior studying exercise physiology, said. “It’s a big facility and everyone should get a chance to work out here if they want to.”
Just as students don’t mind faculty in Ping, Ferguson said Athens residents should be comfortable around students.
“They shouldn’t be scared of students. When they get in there, students are actually enjoyable to be around,” Ferguson said.
Besides offering memberships to Ping, Campus Recreation has other programs geared toward the greater Athens community. People can sign up for “learn to” programs, such as learning to play hockey, swim, play golf and ice skate.
The “learn to” programs are open to everyone in the community, including students, although most of those who attend are children from the Athens area, Ferguson said.
In addition to Ping, non-students can purchase memberships for the Aquatic Center, Bird Arena and Walter Fieldhouse. Both students and non-students must purchase memberships to the OU Golf Course.
Ferguson said Campus Recreation is reviewing all the memberships it offers and considering “reduced rates or package deals” for those who have multiple memberships.
“Overall we’re trying to improve the experience for our students and community members,” Ferguson said. “Our first priority is students.”
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