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NIC students hope for future of fitness

Heather Erikson, president of the Associated Students of North Idaho College, is hopeful about a possible student recreation center for the Coeur d'Alene campus. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Taryn Brodwater Staff writer
Heather Erikson, president of the Associated Students of North Idaho College, is hopeful about a possible student recreation center for the Coeur d'Alene campus. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

Sharolyn Joslen doesn’t hear her North Idaho College classmates talking about great study parties or tennis matches.

Instead, she hears students talk about how they fill their empty hours drinking or getting high.

“There’s nothing to do around here that provides healthy entertainment,” the NIC student said.

That’s why Joslen said she would endorse a proposal to build a student recreation center on campus – even if she had to shoulder some of the cost.

Later this month, the Associated Students of NIC will conduct an advisory vote to see if students are willing to pay about $250 a year in additional fees to fund construction of a student recreation center. Student government leaders are considering a $7.7 million facility.

Heather Erikson, ASNIC president, said students seem receptive to paying an additional fee for a recreation center, though they may protest the possibility of a tuition increase. Trustees will consider a recommended 3 percent tuition increase at their meeting later this month.

“The thing with tuition is the students have a hard time seeing a tangible result for their contribution,” Erikson said.

Last fall, ASNIC hired a consultant to study the feasibility of a rec center and talk with students and college employees. Both focus groups supported the idea.

Students said they had a hard time affording membership at private health clubs in Coeur d’Alene. Some said they didn’t have time to drive across town to work out.

College employees and possibly alumni could use the facility for the same rate as students.

The consultant came up with three proposals, ranging in price from $5.56 million for 15,859 square feet with few frills to $15.2 million for a 53,000-square-foot recreation center with an indoor track and swimming pool.

Erikson said ASNIC favors a “middle of the road” facility of about 26,000 square feet with a weight room, fitness facility, locker rooms, multipurpose rooms, a gymnasium and rock climbing wall.

The rec center could help create a healthy lifestyle for students that would continue after their college years, Erikson said.

It could also help create a sense of community on campus, she said.

“There’s something incredibly intimate about working out next to your psych professor, sweating next to them,” Erikson said.