Fitness and aerobics classes will kick into high gear tomorrow, as another section of the MBNA Student Recreation Center opens up for general student use.

"We will be the first things to go off there," said Jill Garrigan, fitness activities coordinator.

She said instructors will be using rooms on the first and second floors of the White Building annex. A few classes will begin early in the day, but the majority of them will meet at or after 4 p.m.

For now, the rest of the center, including the weight and nautilus rooms, remains idle as contractors wait for equipment to arrive.

Students passing the three windowed arches facing Atherton Hall have noticed the addition of water to the new pool, but it's not safe to swim in yet, said Dale Roth, director of recreation services and club sports.

"We've run into some filtration problems," he said. "We have to reorder some of the parts."

The recreation center, recently named in honor of the credit card company, was supposed to be done by Thanksgiving break, but the construction and interior work took longer than expected.

When the pool is finally ready, swimmers will be able to enjoy a new sauna and spa on the west end of the pool deck, but it could be another two weeks before that happens, Roth said.

With the addition of the center, the price of the student fitness pass goes up to $15 this semester. Faculty and staff pay $52 this spring, and guests can buy a daily pass for $3.

Passes are available in the lobby of the White Building, at the towel desk of the McCoy Natatorium and on the lower level of the Intramural Building.

Roth said the schedule of fitness classes should be available online at the program's Web site (www.clubs.psu.edu/fitnessprograms), but as of yesterday afternoon, it was inaccessible.

Currently, students can pick up schedules in the White Building.