Student Affairs’ new vision for stone Recreation Center

CHARLOTTE ROCKWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER

KAITRISS DEGROFT
STAFF WRITER

4/13/2026

Plans for major changes at the Alan J. Stone Center for Recreation on the Alma College campus are underway, with proposed hour changes, equipment updates and new incentives aimed at improving accessibility and overall student experiences.

The updates are planned to be in place before the start of the fall semester so students, staff and community members may benefit from them as soon as possible. 

Damon Brown, Vice President for Student Affairs, shares the general plans for the recreation center. 

“Anticipated changes include expanded programming that connects recreation to student engagement, well-being and sense of belonging. There will be enhanced intramural sports and open recreation opportunities, more fitness and well-being programming, and increased collaboration with campus partners,” said Brown. 

Some of these campus partners will include counseling, residence life and other small student organizations. Additional changes will improve student employment opportunities and integrate wellness-focused initiatives, including group fitness, stress-reduction programming and inclusive recreational opportunities. 

“For students, the goal is to create a more vibrant, inclusive and engaging space that supports not just physical health, but also mental well-being, connection and overall success. By intentionally linking recreation to belonging and engagement, we expect to see stronger student involvement and, ultimately, positive impacts on retention and persistence,” said Brown. 

David Blanford, the Director of Student Engagement and Operations at Alma College, highlighted both the rec center’s current challenges and its potential for the future.

“I am looking forward to working in that space with my team to create new experiences for all who use the rec. I want it to be a space for all of our students, faculty and staff. I think the rec center is currently underutilized and can become a much more engaging space on campus,” said Blanford. 

He also focused on making the space more approachable, especially for students and other people in the community who are new to fitness. 

“We want to provide opportunities for folks who may be intimidated by the fitness equipment to have an encouraging space to learn.  We will focus on engaging students in new and meaningful ways, and encourage student organizations to program in the rec center,” said Blanford. 

From a student and employee perspective, Sophia Dech (’26), who works at the rec center, pointed to how the current setup impacts how the space is used.

“I think the rec center has a lot of potential that isn’t being fully used. Right now, there are imbalances in the equipment use. The space itself is great, but the equipment setup limits how well it’s used. Some machines are underused, while others are constantly in demand,” said Dech. 

She highlighted how some changes could be very beneficial to students in the coming years.  

“More partnerships and better visibility of their events could turn the rec center into a more active space for students to gather and connect, rather than defaulting to quieter spaces like the learning commons,” said Dech. 

Dech also emphasized what changes would impact how the space is used. 

“From working here, it’s clear that visibility and campus partnerships would make a huge difference in how much the space is actually used,” said Dech.