With a tentative November 2008 start date and an expected three-year construction timeline, no student currently at Tufts will likely be around to take advantage of the new athletic facilities.
But the group of students and student-athletes that will enjoy the fruits of Steve Tisch's ('A71) $10 million donation may actually be shaped by it.
In the ever-escalating "arms race" of athletic facilities in recruiting, the renovation of Tufts' facilities will be a major card coaches can play in wooing potential student-athletes.
"Athletics facilities are one of those factors that people take into consideration [when applying to schools]," Athletics Director Bill Gehling said. "I wouldn't be surprised if some use our [current] facility as a reason to choose another school."
With this philosophy in mind, colleges across the nation, and in the NESCAC's backyard (see box, page 15) have invested billions of dollars in state-of-the-art athletics centers designed to impress athletes and non-athletes alike.
Thanks to Tisch's donation, Tufts will follow suit in the fall of 2008, hoping to provide an facility that matches the size and athletic makeup of the student body.
At the moment, Tufts' facility is far from ideal. Twenty-eight varsity squads and a 5,000-member student body vie for time in the school's cramped fitness center. But when construction begins, Tufts will make a much-needed push to provide athletics facilities on par with many of the other schools in the NESCAC.
"I would think [having a new facility is] very important given what students have in secondary schools right now and what our peer institutions offer," said John Roberto, Vice President of Operations. "Any plan that provides facilities that do not exist gives us a much better competitive footing."
Tufts' renovation plan should launch the school to the top of the pack when it comes to appealing to future students.
"The varsity athletes are just one of beneficiaries of the construction," Gehling said. "It will benefit the university from the applicants' standpoints. Health recreation facilities are one of those things that make an impression when looking at a school."
