Over the three years that I have been a student at Tufts University, a lot of criticism has been voiced regarding the Tufts Daily, The Observer, and The Primary Source. Though some of the criticisms, which range from copy editing to ideology, may occasionally be warranted, the Tufts community should recognize that we are a very lucky campus. These media outlets keep students well informed on the issues that affect undergraduates, a benefit often overlooked in the land of academia. However, with the advent of television so many years ago and the new digital revolution, the way the world both "reads" news and consumes entertainment has changed. Times have changed and Tufts must change along with the rest of the world if this campus is to be a place of which we can be proud.
When I joined Tufts University Television a few years ago, there were only a handful of active members. The station had been a kind of "home-movie" club for nearly 30 years. During my freshmen year, with a lot of help from the President and the Provost, TUTV was finally able to broadcast to all the dorms on channel 43. Since that time, TUTV has gone almost completely digital. For relatively little money, TUTV is able to use digital technology to shoot nearly professional looking programming.
And TUTV is working with very little money. With a budget of only $6,000 a year, TUTV has survived thanks to generous donations from both outside and within the Tufts Administration. In the past, this money was sufficient to satisfy the 20 or so members' needs.
With equipment so expensive, our budget was mainly used to repair "prosumer" equipment. That is, second rate broadcast equipment that works for a short time and is somewhat affordable. In terms of production, we were surviving with only three field cameras for the handful of members.
However, times have changed. This year, TUTV's active membership surpasses 130 people. TUTV is broadcasting movies and Tufts programming 24 hours a day. Training courses have been offered every week to undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and community members interested in learning to use our equipment and editing facilities. We share our resources with many classes ranging from the Drama Department's "Shakespeare in Film" course to the Experimental College's "Creating Television: Industry, Art, and Technology." We also collaborate with the Music Department to provide performance recordings of large and small ensembles.
The future is looking even more promising. TUTV may be appearing on a limited basis in Dewick and we hope our programming can reach off-campus students in Hotung as well. In a couple of weeks, TUTV will launch its new interactive website. From this site, not only can students check in on our latest schedule and upcoming events, but they can also watch our programming. This innovation means that all off-campus students, faculty, alumnae and anyone else who wanders on to the page will be able to watch TUTV. This site will become a great facilitator between students and alumnae and a great public relations device for the Administration.
Currently, TUTV is airing a news show that is the only way you can see what General Powell had to say to the national media in a news conference before his speech. We are also producing programming on Tufts sports, film reviews, a Tufts dating game show, political discussion groups, sketch comedy, and much more.
With so much demand for programming and one of the highest student activities memberships on campus, TUTV is currently facing a crisis. With only three cameras for approximately 130 members, we are greatly limited in that we can accomplish. Professional cameras range from $50,000 to $150,000. The second generation prosumer cameras we currently use only cost $2,700 each. We have come before the Senate and the Administration for money so that at least one out of every 14 active members can be shooting around campus. Ideally, TUTV would like to provide news and entertainment on a weekly, if not daily, schedule. Our limited production capabilities are not only dampening the desires of the 130 members of TUTV, but also all the potential viewers, including students, faculty, and the ever important alumnae community.
It is time for the Tufts community to make a decision. Do we stick with the status quo or move ahead? Do we continue to limit TUTV's production capabilities and continue to allow CampusLink to neglect the cable system that broadcasts TUTV and horribly distorts the video and audio quality sent to dorms?
TUTV is asking the Tufts community to voice their concerns and opinions to the TCU Senate and the Administration. We have come a long way in the last three years, and have the potential for so much more.
Don Schechter is a senior majoring in music with a plan of study in media arts. He is the manager of TUTV.
