Bismarck State College's board of governors held forums Thursday to inform students about the plans between BSC and the Bismarck Park Board to build an indoor aquatic and wellness center on the BSC campus.

Toby Lund, president of the BSC board of governors, explained that the proposed facility would be 10,000 square feet and include an indoor playground, aerobics-dance studio, recreational pool and a competition pool with seating for up to 1,000 people.

The plans also include adding a gym at a later date.

In addition to providing information, the forum also was designed to gauge student support of the facility and collect any questions or concerns students have about the proposal.

Some of the concerns voiced were about the aquatic center's potential for overcrowding since it also would be open to the public and other schools, and the fairness of increasing BSC students' fees in exchange for the use of the center, regardless of whether or not they intend to use it.

Although nothing is set in stone, the proposal is to increase student fees by $4 per credit hour, with a $60 cap. This means that no BSC student will have to pay more than $60 per semester for use of the facility, but students would pay for using the facility even if they don't use it.

Despite these issues, Lund said he thinks the facility is well supported by the student body.

"Students are extremely excited to have a pool," Lund said.

(James Ziegler is a student at Bismarck State College. He can be reached at 302-0822.)