>>> [MUSIC PLAYING] >>> Go Green!

Hello everyone and what a beautiful day for a groundbreaking, right?

Welcome.

My name is Kat Cooper and I have the honor of serving as the chief communication officer for student life and engagement at Michigan State.

My honor to be your host today.

A year ago we cut the ribbon on a new turf field and today we celebrate the next step in our continued efforts to provide opportunities for health, wellness and fitness activities to support the well-being of MSU students and campus community.

The Student Recreation and Wellness Center will have 293,000 square feet of recreational opportunities for our students.

Absolutely!

[APPLAUSE] That includes gymnasiums, multi-activity courts, an indoor running track.

Strength and fitness studios.

Sports simulators, university classrooms, locker and toilet rooms to meet gender inclusive needs, pool and recreation amenities.

We are excited and thank all of you.

We would like to begin by thinking University partners infrastructure and planning facilities and designing construction partners including Becket & Raeder.

Councilman Hunsaker and Associates, Granger construction, Rossetti + Fishbeck and Moody Nolan for the partnership.

[APPLAUSE] Now I would like to offer our university land acknowledgment.

We collectively acknowledge that Michigan State University occupies the ancestral traditional and contemporary lands of the option a big three fires Confederacy of Ojibway, [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE].

In particular the University resides on lanes seated in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

We recognize support and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan's 12 federally recognized Indian nations for historic indigenous communities in Michigan, for indigenous individuals and communities who live here now and of those forcibly removed from homelands.

By offering this land acknowledgment we affirm indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Michigan State University more accountable to the needs of American Indian and indigenous peoples.

Thank you.

[APPLAUSE] We will now move into hearing from our distinguished speakers for today.

We have interim president Teresa Woodruff PhD who has served as Michigan State University's chief executive since November 2022.

She leads our 168 -year-old mission of education, research and outreach and of the implementation of the University's strategic plan.

It is my pleasure to introduce interim president Teresa Woodruff.

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you very much.

Really thrilled to be here with all of you to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

This is a grand moment for all of us and I want to start by acknowledging our fantastic Board of Trustees members.

Please stand and be acknowledged.

Thank you.

[APPLAUSE] Our board is committed to helping foster a culture of well-being and I thank each of you for what you have done and those who have not been able to join us that have done for this institution.

There are a large number of offices and units from across the University who have played key roles in getting us to where we are today.

I want to particularly call out our senior administrators who are here.

Infrastructure planning and facilities, student life and engagement, health and recreation team and everyone who is here who has been part of the University to bring this vision to fruition.

Thank you very much four being here and been here every day for the University health and well-being.

[APPLAUSE] I think many of you know that I am a firm believer in of physical activity and not only for student athletes but for our entire University community.

From our students to employees to our greater community.

Taking time for our health is fundamental, I believe, to our feelings, to our feelings of pride and belonging and ultimately to success.

As many of you know who have been repeat offenders to my remarks over a period of time I always look to see the wisdom of others to breathe to these events a quote that nicely captures the moment.

The quote I have for you today is from the one and only Tom Izzo.

Tom once said and I quote caught not knowing he would be here.

There could be a rebuttal at the end.

I don't know.

Coach Izzo once said, I think it's profound and perfect for today.

The one thing that my parents have told me, and I try to tell my kids, it doesn't matter how much fame, money or anything else you have.

Friends, marriage.

It doesn't.

None of it matters compared to your health because without it nothing matters.

I think that coach Izzo's thoughtful quote really underscores part of why we are here today to put shovels in the ground and to demonstrate our commitment to what really matters.

That is the health of our entire Spartan community.

In addition to quotes that help lift up and edify the moment I always like to bring research to all of you.

Some data set that helps us understand the why behind what we are doing.

In fact, the quote of coach Izzo was beautifully underscored by published research that Vice Provost and Dean of undergraduate of education shared with me several years ago which includes the following findings.

Participation of MSU students in recreational sports resulted in an increase retention by three to four percentage points and an increase by 14 percentage points for those reaching the second year class standing after two semesters.

Wow.

Do I need to repeat that kind of data?

Is there any other reason why we are here today?

Three to four percentage points and increase retention.

14 for those who reach our sophomore year.

That research using our data finds that positive relationship between recreational sports participation and our student success indicators.

That means we have more retention, better class standing and a better graduation rates.

That is principle to our strategic plan that all of us are here to enable the best outcomes for our entire student body.

These are just two of the reasons that I'm excited.

Coach Izzo's admonition to all of us on what matters.

The data behind all of this.

Lastly, some of you have heard me speak about the eight interconnected dimensions of well-being.

Doctor Alexis Travis is here with us who is our Vice Provost for health and well-being.

We talked quite a bit about these because I think we can't think in one dimension about how to enable student success.

The success of our employees and the outcomes for a healthy Spartan community.

Those eight dimensions of wellness are intellectual, emotional, environmental, financial, occupational, spiritual, social and physical.

We are working in each of these eight dimensions and today the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center promotes physical and many of the other eight dimensions of healthy living.

The importance of movement.

Flexibility.

Strength.

Aerobic and cardiovascular health.

Want to play a game of basketball or soccer?

There are multi- activity courts and a turf arena.

Want to take a run on a rainy day like today?

We have an indoor running track.

Want to exercise on a hot early semester day?

Ahead the choice, I could do rainy or hot so I am doing both.

Take a dip in our 50-meter recreational pool.

Great fitness equipment that are designed to be accessible.

100 percent of this facility is designed from the ground up to be accessible to the widest number of participants in these activities.

I'm really excited we can offer this.

I'm so excited for what Michigan State stands for.

We are committed to supporting our entire communities overall well-being.

To all eight dimensions.

To best support our students success and outcomes in the classroom and beyond because as coach said without your health nothing else matters.

My charge to all of you today is to take a few minutes and focus on at least one dimension of wellness for everyone within this room and to see what a difference it can make.

Think you all four being part of a community that cares so much for each and every individual.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >>> Thank you for sharing that wisdom interim President Woodruff.

Hearing the Spartan marching band practice in the distance, we couldn't have planned it any better.

All right.

Moving on to Doctor Rema Vassar who was elected to the Board of Trustees for a term beginning in 2021 and has served as chair since January 2023.

Please welcome to the podium trustee chair Rema Vassar.

[APPLAUSE] >> Good afternoon.

I'm delighted to stand here today on this beautiful summer day.

Hey Kos party!

He's waving.

Beautiful summer day as we break ground on this facility that will have a lasting impact on the rise of our students.

The student recreation wellness and to her is not just a nice to have.

It is a must-have.

I'm so pleased we are taking on the Spartan communities imperative that we take this -- transformative -- thank you for your help.

I appreciate you.

I say that word every day.

Every single day.

Multiple times a day.

Get it together.

Transformative status that brings us into alignment with our peer universities and further integrates the state about planning for the well-being of our students.

The rolled leading to this point wasn't paved overnight.

A long collective journey involving consistent efforts of the administration, the board, the faculty, staff and students and alums.

Giving our current recreation facilities are in range of 40 to 100 years, maybe we need to needed this?

Perhaps?

I am glad we are putting forth the effort to make sure that physical health, physical and mental and emotional health is part of our performance metrics as a university.

This groundbreaking event is more than a construction milestone.

Embodies the very essence of community well-being.

We recognize the path to wellness and growth is not merely physical.

This is mind, body and spirit and soul.

I want to take a time right now to think students.

You have had a crucial role in the efficacy in making this dream come true and I appreciate -- the board appreciates your voices.

You have been instrumental in advancing this plan.

You should be proud of your work today.

You should give the students a hand.

[APPLAUSE] We are always grateful to the students for pushing us.

They are a catalyst of change and push us to prioritize collective well-being.

The board is deeply grateful for your dedication, e-mails, showing up at 8:00 a.m. to talk with us.

We appreciate the advocacy.

It is because of year commitment we stand ready with unified strength.

In conclusion as we break this ground today we are laying the foundation for a future where the holistic well-being of every Spartan is not just an aspiration but a well resourced communitywide commitment.

Thank you once more for everyone here, for all you have done and continue to do to make this vision a reality.

My last admonishment is to listen to your bodies.

Please remember to rest.

Please remember to rest.

Drink lots of water.

Mind your own business!

Takes out a lot of stress.

Mind your own business.

Loving and being loved is essential to me as air and water.

Most importantly show love to yourselves.

Show love to others and show love to your Spartan community.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you.

Now we would like to welcome Doctor Thomas Jeitschko.

A professor of international economics who serves as interim Provost for academic affairs at Michigan State University.

Please welcome him to the stage.

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you, much appreciate it and thank all of you for being here today.

This is exciting.

Part of this advancing to the stage of this important groundbreaking.

Student health and well-being play a critical role in supporting student success and that's why I'm happy to talk here as well because as interim Provost my major focus is student success.

That's also at the core of the University and of that place is this building also at the core of the University.

To fully support student success at Michigan State University we need to attend to all aspects of student well-being.

Not just about providing academic -- adequate academic support.

It is about supporting all aspects of our students being so they are able to persist and a graduate.

They are able to thrive and grow during their time here at Michigan State University.

Providing students with a diverse range of services and support that they need to be successful is truly a university wide task and involves attending to the whole student.

Many offices and units across University play key roles in helping MSU achieve that.

Divisions like infrastructure, planning and facilities, which is responsible for building maintenance, custodial services, landscaping grounds and power and water.

Partner and student success.

Divisions like student life and engagement which includes recreational sports and fitness services, culinary services and residence education and housing services to name another one critical and student success.

Each one provides essential services every day in supporting student success and nourishing students.

Keeping them housed.

Maintaining the grounds and facilities they use throughout the day and providing them with recreational opportunities.

This new Student Recreation and Wellness Center will be an amazing addition to that network of support and will play a key role in fostering the health and well-being of our students, which will in turn foster their overall success.

It will offer students more opportunities to be healthy and well, which is consistent with the mission of recreational sports and fitness services.

Which is to promote each participant's learning experience by engaging the University and healthy lifestyles through sport, fitness and recreational opportunities.

On a day like today and on occasion such as this it is an especially important to recognize the many factors that contribute to our students academic success and to also thank everyone at Michigan State University who plays a role in enabling that success.

That success is in fact a university wide effort and it comes to fruition here as in many other places.

Thank you all for coming out today to celebrate the groundbreaking of this exciting project and of the many ways it will support student success here at MSU.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you.

I'm excited to hear from our students who advocated for this facility and have supported us and fellow students as we move forward.

Today we are hearing from Taylor Sutton, a fourth-year majoring in soulful work in the College of social science.

Taylor is the president of the residents all association with a advocate and provide services for the over 15,000 on-campus residence residents at MSU.

Please welcome Taylor Sutton to the podium.

[APPLAUSE] >> I promise I don't try to live up to generational stereotypes when everyone comes up with a binder and Gen Z comes up with a phone I think it says something.

My name is Taylor, I'm the president of the resident Association our on-campus government representing the over 16,000 students that currently live on campus at MSU.

One of the core missions is working to improve the on-campus living experience.

This can be found in our mission statement found in a lot of the work we do and a part of how we do that is through partnerships with a variety of departments here at MSU including recreational sports and fitness.

We have been honored to have the opportunity to collaborate and share input on a lot of projects such as Spartan Green and this recreational wellness facility coming here today.

One of the biggest things that the recreational sports and fitness brings his access to fitness facilities for those living on campus, I mean, right behind us here we have South neighborhood.

It's our largest neighborhood on campus that's going to have this facility right in their own backyard making it easily assessable for students, including those who might have difficulty accessing some of our older facilities that are outdated.

I think this does a lot to highlight the University's commitment to health and fitness and also generally seeking to support the well-being of our students here.

Leslie by having meeting spaces in areas for clubs we are not only supporting individual fitness but also supporting the success of student organizations which help drive the work that RHA and others across campus.

With that to follow what everybody before me has done.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you.

It is hard to read those phones.

The print is so small!

[LAUGHING] Hannah Jeffrey is pursuing her PhD in plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology and the Department of Plant soil and microbial sciences.

As president of the Council of graduate students Hannah works to promote the academic, social and economic goals of graduate and professional students.

Welcome to the stage Hannah Jeffrey.

[APPLAUSE] >> Good afternoon.

It is mostly evening isn't it?

I was going to read a speech off of my phone -- it's right here.

Nevermind.

Right behind me I have two members of the graduate employee union to show the strength and diversity of the graduate employee -- graduate professional students at Michigan State University.

Thank you for having us today.

I would like to personally thank at Michigan State University's leaders for demonstrating their commitment to graduate and professional students health and wellness by constructing this facility and for working with the graduate students at this university to make this a healthy, safe and affordable endeavor for all.

While I may not be able to use this facility during my time here it makes me happy to know our future graduate and professional students will have a place to thrive physically and mentally by doing the activities that they love.

My speech is short and sweet.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you.

Now we welcome Katie Joles, a fourth-year student considering fisheries and wildlife with minors in forestry and marine ecosystem management.

Katie serves as the president of the MSU outdoors club a group of adventurous Spartans that traces its roots on campus back on-campus back to 1927.

[APPLAUSE] >> Like she said my name is Katie and I'm the president of the outdoors club.

I did come straight from a forestry lab but I did take off the hiking boots.

Didn't live up to that stereotype.

Basically the outdoors club is devoted to exploring the outdoors and introducing undergraduates to the outdoors.

Through this club I have gotten so many benefits.

I found my friends and also getting outside during college has been a huge source of stress relief for me especially during COVID when that was one of the few things I could do during my freshman year.

Having this outdoor adventure center will really help future students to be able to do this for generations to come.

It will help people find community and find friends on campus and explore outer hobbies they can do for the rest of their life.

Like she said before, my speech is also very short but think you guys for inviting me to speak today and come to the groundbreaking of the outdoor adventure resource Center.

On behalf of the outdoors club we are excited for this project.

[APPLAUSE] >> I think others will agree that short and sweet is just fine.

Emily Hoyumpa is a third-year student majoring in social relations and policy at James Madison College.

Emily serves as president of the associated students of Michigan State University with the mission of enhancing the student experience at MSU.

Please welcome to the podium Emily Hoyumpa.

[APPLAUSE] >> My name is Emily Hoyumpa.

I am the ASMSU and Michigan State University undergraduate student body president.

This is an important step in student well-being and the right direction to ensure the health and safety of our community and overall battle the Spartan expense.

Today we stand on the ground of what will be a place where Spartans will take care of physical and mental health.

As we've got to meet thousands of new and returning Spartans over the last few weeks at a couple things to become clear.

First our community is incredibly special.

We are dedicated to helping each other learn and grow in and outside of the classroom especially at places like these.

Second our community is also incredibly busy.

My slogan this year has been here there and everywhere and I know this rings true for many of you as well if you have seen my Google calendar.

But knowing how special this community is its vital we take the time to decompress and take care of ourselves and I believe this facility will be a great place for Spartans to do so.

Looking towards the future I envision a certain community that not only takes advantage of this remarkable facility but also discovers opportunities to unite on their wellness journeys whether we are stepping onto campus after a break or made this our home for a extended period.

MSU remains a special place.

Stands apart not only because the outstanding resources at our disposal like this new rec center and other innovations brought forth by Michigan State University but primarily because the incredible Spartans who breathe life into this campus.

The joy I derive is it is immeasurable and I know many of you share in the sentiment whether you are an alum or embarking on your adventure.

As we stand united I aspire for this rec center to serve as more than a place for Spartans to care for themselves.

It should become a cherished space where other friendships are formed and extend a helping hand to one another just a Spartans well.

In conclusion this exciting new chapter in MSU's dedication and health and wellness holds immense promise.

I anticipate the commencement moving forward and fully aware it will be a source of enrichment for each and every one of you.

Thank you and as my counterparts before me.

Go green!

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you to all the student leaders and students who advocated for this facility.

We appreciate having you here.

Now we will have the pleasure of hearing from one of the advocates who help bring this project into fruition.

Senior Vice President Vennie Gore.

[APPLAUSE] >> Coach, my grandfather must have played for you because he used to tell us your health is your wealth.

Having good health allows for you to do the things you want to do.

As a self prescribed gym rat who would be down at 6:00 a.m., I am West, hanging out.

This is an important facility.

Because it allows for us to live a lifetime skills.

As a former kinesiology, my day we were called PE majors, you learn life skills about taking care of yourself and taking care of your health.

This is what I hope this facility does.

It also is an opportunity for those of us who like competition.

Who aren't good enough to play for coach to get out and compete with one another.

And it to join intramurals and to join into having teams together.

There has been a great team that has push us forward.

I think we should have the rec sports group stand up.

[APPLAUSE] I arrived on campus August 2007 and got my pass.

There was a young woman who first started my year, we need a rec Center.

I'm not going to mention her name because she would give me the stink eye.

This is been a labor of love.

Sometimes dreams take a while to happen.

But as my grandfather said if you are willing to wait good things will happen.

If you are willing to put the effort and good things will happen.

I want to think that staff for having persistence in the fortitude to go forth.

Grandpa listen to you.

I'm going to keep this short and simple and safe thank you say thank you to everybody who in your moment did what you did to keep this facility and keep the dream alive so thank you very much.

In the spring of 26 when this place opens it will be the state of fitness in the Big Ten.

[APPLAUSE] There will be no one in the Big Ten that will be able to touch this facility.

Again, greatness happens at MSU.

Thank you very much.

I'm supposed to be the closer so what is next?

[APPLAUSE] >> Thank you.

Now we proceed to the ceremonial ground breaking.

I would like to invite our speakers from today as well as Board of Trustees members in attendance to grab hardhats and prepare for the ceremonial ground breaking.

Thank you all so much for joining us today.

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