Northern looks at football stadium, vets' center

Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel told a meeting of the Montana State University Council in Bozeman Wednesday, that a veterans success center and a football stadium are two projects being considered by the university.

Talk of the possible projects was confirmed by both Rachel Dean, administrative assistant to Kegel, and Jim Potter, director of university relations at Northern, though both stressed that such projects are in the preliminary stages and no details have been laid out nor decisions made.

"No plans are in place yet. We don't even know if it's possible," Dean said. "But it is being talked about."

Under the plan, the veterans success center would be located in Donaldson Hall, a historic building constructed in 1934. which has been a dormitory, offered guest housing and served a series of other functions. The building's condition has deteriorated in recent years and now sits vacant.

Few details were proposed disclosed about the possible football stadium, other than it would be on Northern's practice field.

Whenever they play a home game, the Lights use the Blue Pony Stadium, which is operated by Havre Public Schools.

Potter said the possible projects are two of nine that are the subject of feasibility studies being carried out by the campus's 25-member Strategic Assessment Team.

The group, which Potter said is headed by deans and directors from the campus, is tasked with making recommendations for improvements across the campus as part of an effort to recruit and retain students.

Right now, Potter said, the team's members are being split into nine groups, each looking at the cost and practicality, as well as the benefit to the campus and broader community, of each initiative.

Potter said the group was created shortly after Kiegel was made chancellor of Northern a little over a year ago.

Neither Potter nor Dean would comment on the other proposals being surveyed.