The recent decision by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate to fund the Trips Cabin at the price of $230,000 has sparked much debate on campus. What should be a simple question about benefiting the school is quickly becoming a politicized argument. As the current president of the Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) and an officer of TMC's Trips Cabin Committee, I would like to address some of the concerns raised by the student body.
Let me start by saying that the past 24 hours have been amazing. So many members of the Tufts community poured hours of effort into this project, and to see it finally happen has been my most rewarding accomplishment here.
Members of the TMC and others who have enjoyed the Loj have sent me e-mails and approached me in person to share their excitement. The construction of this new building will have many positive effects on past, present and future Tufts students. By solving our overcrowding issues, the Trips Cabin will soothe the tensions that often arise between groups seeking a social retreat from campus and individuals seeking a base of operations for an outdoor adventure.
By giving us more space, it allows the TMC to pursue a long-held goal of our club: to encourage people to go outside and enjoy the natural world. In the past, our outreach activities were limited by the small capacity at the Loj. Now, we look forward to introducing more students than ever to the beauty and adventure of the New England backcountry. As part of our negotiations with the TCU Senate, the TMC is launching a multifaceted publicity campaign to introduce many more students to the Loj this fall.
In addition to the benefits to our club, we truly believe that the Trips Cabin will be an asset to the entire student body. The point of this project is not just that our members get more sleep; the point is that we can have a shared space for all Tufts students to gather and relax. Student groups use the Loj almost every weekend as a place to escape the hectic day-to-day life on campus. Groups often use their TCU Senate budget to fund retreats to the Loj, and this semester, we have a waiting list of seven groups who cannot use the Loj simply because the demand is too high and the number of beds is too low. The Loj is a place to bond, to play board games in your pajamas and to sit around the fire and talk about life. By maintaining a fleet of cross-country skis and hiking maps, we do our best to make the outdoors accessible to people of all levels of experience.
The Loj keeps its doors open to alumni and hosts several on any given weekend. I have personally learned more about Tufts traditions and heritage from alumni that I met at the Loj. TMC alumni were so thrilled by the thought of this cabin that we raised nearly $12,000 over the past year. For hundreds of former Tufts students, the TMC and the Tufts Loj trigger wonderful memories of their college experience.
The recovered funds represent a unique and special opportunity for the student body to do something significant for our university. In keeping with the nature of these funds, I am glad to see that they are being spent to improve the quality of student life. I understand that the Loj is not used by every single student at Tufts (yet!), but a recent Senate survey shows that nearly 23% of students use it at least once a semester. As a senator recently put it, the recovered funds could be used to give every single student a cupcake. Every student would see the benefits, but one cupcake per student doesn't go very far. The point is that no feasible use of the funds could benefit all students equally. I think the Trips Cabin gives the biggest bang for our buck, especially since the sum could not make a significant difference in the university's quest for wireless Internet or a renovated campus center.
Initially, the project was designed to be funded by a loan from the university to the TCU Senate that would be paid back by the Senate over a number of years. In light of the economic situation and the Tufts building freeze, the project had been put on hold indefinitely. The administration, while supportive of the project, could not commit to fund it for the foreseeable future. Frankly, if the Senate had not stepped up with these funds, the project may never have happened.
To those who still don't feel comfortable with this expenditure, I invite you to come up to the Loj. Bring some friends and an open mind, and take a weekend vacation. Just like the campus center or the gym, the Loj is a place for anyone to enjoy. As our club so often encourages its members, I encourage the Tufts community: Go outside!
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Katie Bond is a junior majoring in biology and environmental studies. She is the president of the Tufts Mountain Club.
