The interim President of the University of North Dakota says he understands the need to build a new student union on campus.
But Dr. Joshua Wynne said he has a few issues he wants to look at – and that’s why the project is on hold for a short time.
Wynne said the current student union is outmoded, and has a lot of maintenance needs.
"The case for a new building was advanced most impressively by the students," Wynne said.
UND students voted to raise student fees to pay off the proposed $80 million bond issue. But Wynne said since that vote, he has raised two questions. One, has he been fully vetted about the project, and does he support it. The second revolves around his focus on how to mitigate student debt.
"Since the bond issue commits students for many years to additional funds, is that in the best interest of students?"
Wynne said he’s asked the university chief financial officer, Jed Shivers, to look at that issue.
"We want to see if the way we've structured it is the only way," Wynne said. "Are there other options to help us reduce the debt load of current and future students?"
Wynne said he will soon have a more formal position on both the new union – and the financing plan.
