Gators + Gear: How One RecRe Box Is Engaging the Reitz Union
Gators + Gear: How One RecRe Box Is Lighting Up the Reitz Union
Walk through the front doors of the J. Wayne Reitz Union, step onto the main floor, and look left toward the North Lawn. Right there, greeting every student and campus tour, is the University of Florida’s very own RecRe box. It is the only one on campus for now, but it has already made a massive impact, and yes, more are on the way.
One Box, One Year, 1,000+ Happy Gators
Since landing in Gainesville about a year ago, this single RecRe box has served over a thousand unique students. Think of it as a self-service treasure chest of student engagement:
Games on demand – Grab cards, board games, or fire up a Nintendo Switch for a quick round of Mario Kart with friends.
The first indoor putting green in the RecRe network – Hundreds of students have worked on their short game between classes, right inside the union.
Campus essentials – Phone chargers, calculators, and other academic supplies are only a qr code scan away.
A Perfect Placement
Putting the box just inside the main entrance does more than save students a walk. It doubles as a live demo for every campus tour that stops in the lobby. Picture being a 17-year-old deciding where to spend the next four years: on one side of the room students race in Mario Kart; on the other, friends compete in a putting contest. That quick snapshot of student life is powerful and memorable.
Social Media Stardom
UF’s social team loves the box as much as students do. An Instagram Reel featuring the RecRe locker has already cleared one million views, showcasing how tech, convenience, and student energy come together in one bright orange and blue package.
The Value Beyond Fun
Dwayne Isaacs, Senior Director of the Reitz Union, sums it up perfectly:
“Our students are so very busy. They’re immersed in lots of different projects, and they have very little time. Time is their most valuable asset, and RecRe will help them spend their time more strategically. Students will gain from the items we’ll put in the boxes, but the real value is the time RecRe can and will save students.”
Every charger borrowed or game night sparked by the locker saves students a trip home or a long line at the front desk. The real win is time back in their day for projects, friends, or, yes, another putting challenge.
What’s Next?
New lockers are slated to arrive on campus in the coming months, spreading the Gator spirit (and gear) even wider. Until then, the Reitz Union keeps proving that one RecRe box can make a big difference.
