The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

The University of the Bahamas North has implemented an intramural programme, holding its first annual Inter-house Sports Day at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex last week.

Dr Theo Cooper, Dean of Students, and Leslie Lewis, of the Student Affairs Department, said that the event is designed to help develop comradery and promote healthy lifestyles among its student body and faculty at the Grand Bahama campus.

Lewis stated that the first letters of the five sport houses (Masterminds, Incredibles, Northstars, Go-getters and the Originals) that students compete spell out school’s mascot MINGO.

“We want our students to be active, and we stress health lifestyles, and encourage students to exercise and to be fit and eat healthily. So, this is just another one of our initiatives to stay active. We are also very pleased and proud to showcase our student-athletes on campus,” she said.

Students competed in all of the track events, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, events, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m, as well as the all the relays, and field events such as javelin, discus, long jump and high jump. The staff competed in only three track events – 60m, 100m and 400m

Dr Cooper said it is very important to develop well-rounded students.

She noted that one of the disadvantages at UB North was the lack of athletic teams to launch its intermural programme.

“We do not have the athletic teams as they do in Nassau. However, we do have student-athletes here, particularly those who would have come from the high schools that still want not develop themselves in that area, and so we thought it important even though we did not have the athletic teams to provide an intramural programme here at UB North,” he explained.

Dr Cooper said that the inter-house sports day provides not only an opportunity to compete but also a well-rounded experience for all students.

“We want to make sure they take care of themselves, and that means health and wellness, and this is a part of our efforts at UB North to ensure students are healthy,” he said.