An easily accessible, on-campus rock climbing wall is the dream of a group of climbers – and it's a dream they are willing to cling to.

"We are still in the beginning stages of planning, but I am optimistic this climbing wall is not out of reach," said Jeff Barney (freshman-engineering), a Penn State Outing Club member and student organizer for the climbing wall.

Barney is not alone in his quest for a climbing wall, nor is he the first to attempt to build one. "Three or four years ago, a petition for a climbing wall to be installed on campus, using UPAC (University Park Allocations Committee) money, gathered over 2,000 signatures from students. Clearly there is support for this movement," said Sean Healey (senior- industrial engineering), president of the Outing Club.

The first tangible step toward the implementation of a climbing wall was taken last summer when Recreation Services and Club Sports paid an expert to investigate sites on campus where a climbing wall could be constructed.

"The initial results showed us that we could construct a wall in a squash court or in Gym 2 or 3 of the Intramural Building. But, the problem with these sites is that they take existing activities out of use," Dale Roth, director of Recreation Services and Club Sports, said.

"Disregarding those two options, (we) were left with building a new facility or attachment. One such place could be outside the White Building," Roth added.

Barney said the most ideal place for the wall would be somewhere central to campus.

"The most useful place for a climbing wall is somewhere any climber, beginner or expert can put down their bags between class and climb for a few hours. The ideal place to see this happen is the White Building," Barney said.

Supporters of the wall said Penn State is behind in the Big 10 when it comes to campus climbing walls. "The majority of Big 10 schools already have climbing walls," Ashley Sweda, program supervisor for the Penn State Outing Club, said.

Organizers said the support for a climbing wall on campus is there, but a lot more research needs to be done and a proposal needs to be finalized before more progress can take place.

"I am in support of the idea for a climbing wall, but the current step is to present the administration with a clear and convincing proposal that there is a high demand for a wall on campus," Roth said.

A climbing wall can be used for a variety of activities beyond the Outing Club programs, Sweda said.

"Rock climbing is not a fad. The key to a climbing wall is that it can be multifunctional and multi-departmental. It can be used for credit as an ESACT (Exercise and Sports Activity) class or as an alternative Late Night Penn State activity. It can also be open to community groups to help pay for and maintain the wall," Sweda said.

The proposal for a wall must outline in detail where the wall is to go, how big it is, how much it will cost and the safety or risk factor in such a project.

Sweda explained that the dangers of climbing walls are often exaggerated and misunderstood.

"More severe injuries occur on basketball courts than climbing walls. A climbing rope can hold thousands of pounds and all climbing routes will use top roping. The wall will follow higher than the national standards for safety," he said.

A type of wall the group is considering is typically 36 to 50 feet high and costs around $200,000.

A number of sources are being considered as potential donors for the wall. "UPAC could possibly donate some money to the cause, but I think a lot of the money may have to come from grants for late-night alternative activities or from outside companies who may wish to sponsor the wall," Healey said. Three construction companies have already expressed interest in building the wall. The companies need size estimates before they can make a closer price approximation, Barney said.