Athletes, jocks, sports enthusiasts; unite! ESPN's long-awaited arrival to the television sets of Tufts students living on campus has finally occurred; and just in time for last night's installment of Monday Night Football.
Tufts Computing and Communication Services' (TCCS) addition of the channel to its already ample list of viewing options is largely the result of a persistent outcry among Tufts students who enjoy sports in addition to their academics.
The absence of ESPN from the seventy-something channels available to students was an obvious void in a litany of programming options teeming with a mixed bag of possibilities, spanning from the academic and the overtly hedonistic.
In fact, the move on behalf of the TCCS satiates many students who simultaneously juggle classes with athletics, as well as countless others who must neglect participation in campus sports for the sake of a rigorous academic schedule.
The addition of ESPN, EPSN2, and ESPN News to a catalogue of diverse channels represents a logical recognition on behalf of the Office of Residential Life (ORLL) of the interests of many students on campus. Up until now, sports fans were relegated to the oftentimes erratic broadcasting of sporting events on the major networks.
Thanks to the administration's earnest efforts in securing a better rate with the Tufts' satellite TV company, Falls EarthStation, ESPN and its sister channels will be available in Miller and Bush Halls, with ORLL hoping to extend the network to man more dorms as soon as possible.
The move also signifies a subtle, but undeniably positive attempt on behalf of the administration to make thoughtful changes to the quality of life for all different types of students of such a diverse university.
While the ability to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the comfort of one's own dorm room may seem like a trivial change, many students would agree that it is an invaluable way to unwind in an environment that can, at times, seem increasingly overwhelming.
Tufts Community Union (TCU) President Mitch Robinson was quick to recognize the implied significance of the move, noting that the student body and the administration are "working together to make changes and better the quality of life on campus."
Recently, changes on the Tufts campus have ranged from the big to the small, from the construction and dedication of the eco-conscious Sophia Gordon Hall to the implementation of newer, sleeker identification cards for freshmen students.
While the Tufts microcosm fosters, and, at times, encourages collective criticism among students for the perceived shortcomings of the administration, it is times like these that remind the student body that their voices are being heard on issues both big and small.
For the academic with a steadfast interest in the NBA and the NFL; in addition to the EU, WTO, and IMF; the small gesture on behalf of the TCCS has made all the difference.
