Whereas, 1. There are many students who do not participate in the school’s athletic programming but do observe strict or semi-strict physical exercise routines, 2. There is no physical education class, including Fitness Training, that appropriately replaces many individual exercise routines, 3. It is a hassle to fit pre-scheduled workouts into an already overloaded daily schedule, leaving many desiring some freedom in choosing when they would like to workout, and 4. There is a shortage of equipment in the fitness center, which quickly fills up, the students who sign this petition hereby declare their interest in opening a dialogue between the students and the administration regarding the current physical education requirement policy. This dialogue might include a discussion of the requirement’s relevance and importance in addition to a discussion of these potential modifications to the current policy: 1. An independent study option, in which students can complete their own workout routines and receive credit for doing so, This might be legitimized by: a. Signing in and out of Mullan to log the requisite number of hours per week, or b. Wearing a heart rate monitor, pedometer, or other tracking device to confirm that a workout of appropriate rigor has been completed, or c. Choosing an appropriate host to vouch for a student completing a personal workout routine (this may include a slip that said host must sign after each workout). This should be made an option for students who complete DVD workouts such as the P90X, Insanity, Tracy Anderson, or WiiFit programs, 2. A test-out option, This might involve: a. A nationally regulated physical exam, such as the pacer, that students can take during Orientation or at any point during their first two years to place out of the physical education requirement. or b. A physical exam designed by the physical education department that is built to effectively test a student’s physical fitness, 3. A fitness program class, such as a P90X, Insanity, Zumba, Pilates, or Couch to 5K class, 4. A nutrition course that teaches about healthy eating and its effect on the body, and 5. The freedom for students to complete this requirement over the course of their four years at Swarthmore.

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