With muscles protruding beneath her skin and sweat glistening on her brow, a red-faced Julie Baumgart struggles to keep herself from falling to the 18-inch thick foam mat below.

Standing in the foyer of the Recreation Center is a 28-foot rock-climbing wall with rock mounts varying in size, shape and location. The wall allows climbers to practice in a safe environment.

Baumgart, a junior in psychology from Mt. Carmel, scales the wall at least once a week. Though her intensity will allow her to succeed in the sport, she is dismayed by how few women participate in the activity.

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Unfortunately, I’m the only regular girl that climbs the wall, she said. When I climb, it’s to prove, Hey women can do it too,’ and other women will see this and try it.

The Recreation Center has offered women only sports since the late 1950s. At that time there were 80-100 members participating in women’s activities such as volleyball, softball and basketball Since then, participation in women’s activities has increased to 359.

Volleyball, introduced in 1958, began with 12 to 15 players. Last semester 133 women were involved.

Women’s rugby, which started in 1977, is a more recent addition to women’s programs. The team folded in 1988 because of a lack of participants but was rejuvenated in 1994. Now women’s rugby consists of 31 players the most members in the history of the program.

Although many of the activities take place in the Recreation Center, the program is expanding to include activities in the great outdoors.

Since an all-women outdoor venture to the Shawnee National Forest was first offered in spring 1996, the activity has expanded to include a two-day camping and climbing trip rather than a one-day outing.

Geoff Schropp, coordinator of the outdoor programs, said women’s only activities give women the experience of a challenge without the pressure of gender biases.

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Women are less intimidated and more likely to try harder when men aren’t around, he said. They push their comfort zone without the fear of being embarrassed.

Donna Sceerey, a freshman in education from Chicago, has never been embarrassed to climb the wall at the Recreation Center. She first climbed a wall in a male friend’s basement, and she has been climbing ever since.

People think it’s a dangerous sport so only men can do it, she said. But, it’s a challenge I love to do. Getting to the top and getting stuck is so frustrating, but once you get there it’s exhilarating.

Karen Gingerich, climbing wall supervisor at the Recreation Center, has led the camping trip since its introduction and is pleased with the positive effect it has on women.

Women will get out there and aren’t as afraid to challenge themselves as they usually are when men are around, she said. I think that there should be more all women activities provided by the University. And I plan to bring more ideas up to my staff.

Factoid:The next women’s rock climbing and camping outing will be March 28 and 29 at Shawnee National Forest. It is $20 for students. Equipment and instruction will be provided. For information, call 536-5531.