Penn State students who are having trouble filling their fitness requirements before graduating could have more opportunities to do so, though not through the proposals of the newly elected Undergraduate Student Government leaders.

Starting in summer session 2001, the Health and Physical Activity (GHA) general education requirement of three credits, which went into effect for students who entered Penn State anytime after the spring semester of 1999, will apply to all students.

Students admitted to the university prior to this time had to take a combination of three credits of Exercise and Sport Activities and one credit of Health Science courses. Now they can take three credits of any course designated GHA. These include courses in biobehavioral health, kinesiology, nutrition and ESACT.

John Cahir, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, said this new policy was originally an effort by the University Faculty Senate to promote the development of courses that would allow students to develop lifelong good fitness.

"We have a mix of students under the new requirement," he said. "Anyone admitted prior to summer 1999 wasn't getting the benefit, in my opinion, of getting a better series of options in three credits instead of shopping piecemeal."

The change is also a measure to reduce the disproportionate amount of juniors and seniors enrolled in ESACT courses. Since they are no longer required to take them, Cahir hopes the flexibility in the requirement will open more spaces for freshmen and sophomores. John Pfau, instructor in kinesiology and director of the ESACT program, said it is debatable that underclassmen will be able to get into the classes as long as scheduling is based on credits earned.

"People with the most credits always register first and get more popular classes," he said.

Pfau was skeptical, however, about the platform idea advanced by USG President-elect Justin Zartman to allow students to earn ESACT credits for university-sponsored fitness classes.

"I doubt very much the English department would give credit to a student just for going to Pattee Library. That is what they are asking for," he said.

Pfau said the plan is too simplistic because the ESACT curriculum works so differently from what is being proposed, but he would be willing to work with anybody who wants to discuss it.

"It's not about going into the library, it's about what you do when you're in there," he said.

Zartman said he has spoken with many students who are in favor of his proposal and he will go ahead with it.

Disputing the library analogy, he said he and vice president-elect Amanda Hudnall were observing a fitness class and the instructor would not stand for students who don't participate in the program.

"We were standing in the back," Zartman said, "and the fitness instructor yelled at us."