Build. Climb. Rock.

The Truman Rock Climbing Club doesn't just climb rock walls, they build them. The club is rebuilding the rock wall in the A.T. Still University's KCOM Thompson Campus Center gymnasium.

Club president junior Adam Collins said the 12-year-old wall was in need of maintenance because the plywood had begun to crack. Rather than repaneling the old wall, Collins, center director Dan Martin and several other club members determined it would be best to tear it down and start from scratch.

Collins said they decided to rebuild the wall to increase its level of difficulty. Safety also was a factor in the decision-making process because the wall was in need of more extensive repairs, having undergone only basic repairs in 12 years.

The wall, which is more than 30 feet wide and 14 feet high, will consist of 20, 45 and 60 degree climbing angles. Collins said it is scheduled to be completed within the next three weeks and will cater to a range of climbers, from beginners to more experienced climbers.

Funding for the wall came from the Thompson Center budget. Martin approved the push for the improvements and agreed to fund the project if the club provided the labor.

"I'm not sure there would have been a real quick fix on what we needed to do," Martin said. "I don't think anything reached the point of unsafe, but it was either fix it now or fix it later."

Martin said the wall had reached the point of being uninteresting and no longer offered climbers much of a challenge. Collins said the completed wall will be more of a learning tool than it previously was.

A.T. Still University freshman A.J. Christnovach was at the forefront for advocating the wall's renovation  and provided his assistance with the construction. He said he wanted the new wall because he loves climbing, and he hopes others can share that love on a safer and more interesting climbing wall.

"I don't want people disliking climbing," Christnovach said. "It's one of my favorite things in the world, and so I want to make sure that if we have a wall that people actually utilize it and enjoy it, instead of worrying that they're going to fall off. … The wall they had was a little bit dangerous and old, so we need a new one."

Truman's rock climbing club has existed for many years, but Collins admits membership used to be in the single digits. Since he joined the club freshman year, membership nearly has doubled to 19.

Although the club travels to climb outdoors several times throughout the year, the climbing wall at the Thompson Center is their regular meeting location. It is the only legitimate climbing facility in the surrounding area. The club has contributed financially to the wall on various occasions, and paid club members are able to use it at will.

Martin said he was happy to make available a climbing location to both ATSU and Truman climbers. The shared wall assisted Truman's ability to sustain a climbing club, and successfully created a community of climbers between Truman and ATSU climbing enthusiasts.

The construction is not something they are undertaking lightly. Collins said the wall will have a positive impact on awareness on the club, and interest likely will continue to increase.

"You can actually progress to being a good climber here, instead of just learning the basics," Collins said.