Malkowski had two separate campus locations appraised by Nicros, a climbing wall manufacturer. One type of wall would be a “climbing tower” and would feature belayers and a 30-foot wall. It would be housed at Demonstration Hall and was appraised to cost $275,000.

The other design would not feature harnesses, but rather a soft floor to cushion falls. It would be located at IM Sports-West and would replace two racquetball courts. Nicros appraised that climbing wall at $375,000.

Both IM Sports-West and Demonstration Hall already have approved of the spaces being used, Malkowski said. The estimates are “turn-key,” meaning they account for all changes, including demolition. He said the walls will likely cost less.

“The realistic cost is probably a lot less than that,” he said. “We don’t necessarily need the ‘Cadillac version.’”

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

Of the two wall ideas, the climbing tower choice is more enticing, Malkowski said.

Malkowski said MSU faces a major disadvantage as the only major Michigan college without a rock wall. University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan Technological University, Wayne State University and Calvin College all have rock walls.

Policy committee members weren’t hesitant to pass the bill, specifically because it didn’t ask for any money from ASMSU, but instead just support for the potential project. College of Social Science representative Ben Morlock said that since it wasn’t demanding funds, it made sense to support the bill.

The bill will not be voted on by Student Assembly’s full assembly until the spring semester.

Malkowski said he realized it is currently “one of the worst times to ask for a ‘new toy,’” but said the wall would “benefit students for the next five or six decades.” He added that some students have even taken to climbing on campus building exteriors.

“People like to climb on the Chemistry Building because of its natural rock features,” he said. “Because there’s nothing else to climb on.”