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Ric Beard, Staff Writer

 The ASU Board of Trustees met last month to address issues such as campus parking, university electrical use, potential student fee increases and a new visual arts center.

 During the meeting on December 5, the  board approved the pursuit of purchasing new property for additional campus parking. According to Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane Helm, ASU intends to purchase land now occupied by tobacco warehouses. The land is located off Popular Grove road west of downtown Boone. Helm said that the property is appraised at $500,000. It will cost an estimated one million dollars to convert the property into parking.

 The board also authorized the purchase of two electrical generators for use during electrical outages and peak hours on campus. The cost of the generators was close to $1.2 million. They are now located in the new boiler plant on River Street. Helm said "the weather has been to mild to use the generators yet." According to Don Austin of New River Light and Power, the generators will be used from three to 10 hours per month. Austin said using the generators during peak hours instead of paying for the electricity will save the university money. He said that they will likely be running from eight a.m. to nine a.m. during the winter months.

 The board also discussed the possibilities of purchasing the land now occupied by the United Methodist Church for a visual arts center. Jane Helm said the new center would be different from the gallery at Farthing Auditorium "When you have an open space like you do at Farthing, it is hard to control elements," Helm said. She believes that element control will be batter at the new facility. No price agreement has been reached on the purchase of the church property.

 A student fee increase was also on the board's agenda. Beginning in the 1998-1999 academic year, an increase of $219 per student will be charged if the UNC system Board of Governors gives the increase final approval. The fee increase is being proposed to cover the costs of student activities, education, technology, and athletics.

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