WSC FACTS

Roughly 650 tons of structural steel, 6,400 yards of concrete, and 475 tons of rebar were used in its construction. The gymnasium includes eight long-span trusses, each measuring 99 feet in length, that were all delivered and erected in one piece! The east façade and elevated track “push” toward the bayous to maximize the new greenway and create space for the future growth of the UHD campus.

Compared to the original facility, amenities now include more than three times the number of pieces of equipment, exercise studios, three basketball/ volleyball courts, a customized bouldering wall, an indoor running track, a demonstration kitchen for nutrition, workshops, study/meeting suites, massage/personal training spaces, and a parking garage.

Motivated by kindness and a desire for justice, Lauren Parker is a firstgeneration college student with parents who instilled the importance of using her education to help others. Her goal is to reform the criminal justice system. “It’s bleak right now,” she said. “We have a high number of people being sent to prison and high numbers returning to prison. We need to focus on rehabilitation. Society needs to emphasize rehabilitation and give people a second chance to prove that they have changed.”

By Ashley Kilday

Parker met some justice-involved students during her studies. She confessed that she was surprised because they were honor students and very involved in campus life. However, they shared that they felt like they needed to hide their past and were afraid of the stigma, the preconceived notions, and not being given a chance to be understood.

“We have these amazing programs for single parents, minority students, transfer students, and first-gen students, etc. We have separate programs for students with different majors, like the arts or criminal justice. These formerly incarcerated students are without a specific program. They feel that no one sees them.”

When Parker learned of the Student-Led Success & Equity Mini-Grant program, she knew that she could educate the student body