Over the years, UNMC students, faculty and staff have fostered well-being through team and individual sports. Such sports participation dates back to the beginning days of UNMC.
Football was the first sport played on campus. The Omaha Medical College (1881-1902), the precursor to UNMC, outfitted football teams that played against other area colleges. The OMC Medics played teams from Creighton University, Bellevue College, Hastings College and others.
Through the years, students formed sports teams within their colleges and fraternities. Nursing students, who had a gym in Conkling Hall, formed a basketball team as early as 1930 playing in the Omaha Girls’ Basketball League. They played teams from the YWCA, Creighton Training School and Omaha University, among others. The University Nurses finished the 1930 season with a 7-14 record. Medical fraternities also organized basketball teams that competed on the court at Omaha Technical High School in 1930.
The 1930 University of Nebraska College of Medicine “Caduceus” yearbook describes fraternity members participating in golf, tennis, track and baseball. A tennis court, track and baseball diamond were located west of the University Hospital.
In 1967, College of Medicine students staged a friendly sit-in at the office of Mary Jo Henn, M.D., assistant dean for Student Affairs. The students “demanded” a facility for playing sports. Signs read, “We’re getting soft in the wrong places” and “We want a place to romp.” At that time, the gym in Conkling Hall was the only recreation space on campus. A few years later, the University of Nebraska at Omaha agreed to allow UNMC students and staff to use their fitness facilities. In 1996, UNMC built the Center for Healthy Living to meet the campus’ sports and recreation needs.
In addition to students, UNMC faculty and staff organized teams to join in the sports fun. According to the campus newsletter, 116 bowlers competed in the Medical Center League in 1969. Faculty and staff also formed curling teams in the 1960s and 1970s that competed at Ak-Sar-Ben. Staff formed women’s and men’s softball teams, and there was even a Medical Center volleyball league in the 1970s.
To learn more about the history of sports and recreation on the UNMC campus check out medical, nursing, and dental yearbooks on Digital Commons. If you are interested in continuing the tradition of recreation on campus, the UNMC Wellness site promotes sports and other activities to relieve stress and prevent burnout.
Nice article but you skipped over about 20 years prior to the addition of the Center for Healthy Living. UNMC opened the Fitness Center in the late 70's in what was the gymnasium of the Good Shepherd Home. The Fitness Center had a gymnasium on the main floor and a workout area and a fitness class room in the basement. On the east side of the building was a softball field that was used 3-5 days a week during the summer for intramural softball. The Fitness Center offered four intramural sports (basketball, volleyball, golf and softball) and few aerobics classes.
RP