MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Flash Mob on CSU Plaza

WHAT: Flash mob at Colorado State University Lory Student Center Plaza to encourage physical activity among the university’s students. The flash mob will include an opportunity for students to participate in a short Zumba class.

WHEN and WHERE: 12:50 – 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 on the LSC Plaza.

DETAILS: The Zumba flash mob is an effort by Colorado State University’s Health Network to encourage students to increase their daily physical activity. RAMotion is a physical activity campaign directed toward CSU students, who in a recent National College Health Assessment survey were found to be less active than desirable. Those results are particularly surprising since most students identify opportunities for physical activity, such as hiking, biking and skiing, as a benefit of attending CSU.

The survey indicated that 35 percent of all male students and 41 percent of all female students are physically active less than three days a week. About 5 percent of all students reported not exercising at all during the week, and about 25 percent exercised only one or two days a week. These results are atypical of the assumption one can make about college students in Colorado.

In another survey of how many days students were physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, 51 percent of all female CSU students indicated that they were that active less than one day in the prior week, and 59 percent of all males also indicated less than one day of activity in the same time period.

On the other hand, an overwhelming majority of CSU students – 84 percent of the females and 77 percent of the males — report that they believe it is important that the university promote physical activity.

CSU students said that not being physically active is because of a lack of time, a desire to engage in other fun activities and a desire to be social with their friends. However, CSU Health Network experts want to use the flash mob to remind students that when they move, they’re engaging in physical activity. Students can define physical activity in a way that is fun and engaging for them and fit it into their daily life. Additional events planned as part of the campaign include a weekly recess from noon-2 p.m. on Wednesdays on the LSC Plaza with typical recess activities and The 2.1727 Club, a walking club every Tuesday night which will clock 2.1727 miles via a circuit from the Hartshorn Building around campus.

-30-