Air conditioning in Lied Recreation Athletic Center, additions to State Gym, remodeling in both Beyer Hall and State Gym and upgrades to Maple-Willow-Larch athletic fields are just a few of the proposed renovation ideas students will get to voice their opinions on in open forums planned for later this semester.

“I encourage all students to check out the thoughts and possibilities at the Rec Services Web page to get informed. They can contact Rec Services with their thoughts, attend the open forums when they are held, and definitely take the survey when it is sent out later this fall,” said John Schmitz, vice president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate and graduate student in food science and human nutrition.

Planning for the renovations on the recreation centers is an “ongoing process,” said Brian Phillips, Government of the Student Body president and senior in political science. Budgeting is currently the main topic of discussion among the GSB, GPSS and recreational services department.

The recreational services department is undergoing a change in how its services will be funded. Instead of having to get a new resolution passed to make needed improvements to recreational centers, the new system will allow for the recreational services department to use money from a trust fund.

“The idea is to implement a fee that will not only pay for the renovations, but will keep recreation facilities and equipment updated and maintained,” said Brian Olechnowski, president of the GPSS and graduate student in ecology, evolution and organismal biology.

This would mean a slightly higher fee for recreational services every semester. Students will be informed of how much higher the fee will be before a final decision on the renovation project is reached.

“What renovations happen is mainly up to the students to decide,” Phillips said.

Since a majority of the funding will be coming directly from the students, the administration has said they are leaving most of the decisions up to students. The administration has helped carry out studies to pinpoint problem areas and to help determine what the cost of the project will be. They are also looking into finding someone to contribute a major donation to help with the initial costs.

“The administration has made it clear that this project will not come to fruition without significant student support,” Olechnowski said.