Final Renovations Completed at Due Santi’s New Sport Courts
As every student at the University of Dallas who is familiar with Plato’s “Republic” already knows, physical excellence is important to the health of both the city and the individual. As Plato says, “A good soul by its virtue renders the body the best that is possible.” That might be why the Rome campus has a new outdoor sports court.
In mid-November, the new renovation on the Rome campus was finally finished thanks to the generous donation of Gene and Shirley Vilfordi. Two pickleball courts have replaced the old tennis court and the outdoor gym is fully equipped with climbing ropes and all types of pullup and parallel bars.
Pickleball is a great beginner-level sport to play. While in Rome, Mensa lines can be avoided if you make the conscious choice to avoid the post-Art & Arch stampede to lunch and head outside to the courts. As a bonus, it will be even closer and easier to learn than tennis!
Joe Bartke, Rome RC and UD alum (BA ‘24) said, “Having two gyms on campus shows the Rome program’s commitment to encouraging students to really flourish here as whole persons while they’re in Rome and hopefully extend that back into Irving when they return.”
Bartke also stressed the physical and psychological benefits of new equipment and spaces.
“It’s animating the campus in a really fun way that I think is encouraging the students to take physical health seriously, which I think will vastly improve mental health out here in Rome,” he said.
Levi Anderson, a sophomore philosophy major in fall Rome, said, “Most people like working out. I imagine that that’ll be more regular and more easily facilitated. [You have to] have a balance of physical and mental work.”
Rome is a great place to continue, or even begin, your journey of physical fitness. You are walking almost constantly and you’ll need to think of more than one way to justify the amount of gelato and cornettos you’re going to be eating.
You can do strength training to prepare for schlepping your suitcase upstairs in hotels and Airbnbs, endurance training for when you’ll be running through foreign airports and agility training to help you on your way back from Barrons after a night out.
Gentlemen looking to impress the ladies, this new exercise equipment is your saving grace. Now you can prepare to dominate in the Geek Olympics and win glory through physical triumph. Then you’ll be one of the most impressive guys on the Greece trip.
And don’t forget about cardio–there’s that foot race in Olympia and you’ll want to be the winner for that. Physical exercise will help with your overall coordination. It will also help you to win glory in the Cap Bar ping-pong tournaments.
Be inspired by the Spartans and ancient Romans. Watch Gladiator. Conquer your Rome semester.
In a message to the UD community, President Sanford himself said that “students should come back from Rome fitter than they left it.” There’s your argument from authority! Get out there and get gains.