By: Alex Faust, News Staff
In the hype and run-up to the Beanpot, and subsequent jubilation or letdown the following week, one news item is going to get lost among the shuffle.
When the West Village was completed, it ushered in an entirely new era of a “residential” campus here at Northeastern. But in doing so, it also created a rising demand for a Division 1 athletics experience. Not just for our teams, but for us students as well.
Next week, Northeastern’s next master plan will likely be revealed, and included in it is something called the Grandmarc at Northeastern – a new residential building to be constructed in place of the current gymnasium facilities at the YMCA. Yes, that section of the YMCA is slated to be demolished to make room for a high-rise residential complex within steps of Matthews Arena. That route to the arena on St. Botolph Street will be shiny and new years from now, but one can only hope that by the time that building is completed that our students become less fickle.
Between now and the time that the building is finished, I have only one request for our current students: care a little. Every year, Northeastern admits and enrolls more affluent kids who care more about their social lives than they do about the work ethic required for co-op. It’s not hard to see a connection between the promotion of a “four-year option” and ballooned admissions numbers, as The Huntington News reported last week. But with every incoming class comes the challenge of appealing to kids who already have their plates full on Friday and Saturday nights with clubbing, or to international students who may not embrace NCAA hockey or basketball like Americans do.
So, if you’re wondering why the Beanpot ticket sale failed to sell out our allotment, look right in the mirror. The working class roots of Northeastern may not have bred much in the way of fund-raising or success on the court/ice/gridiron, but locals from New England eat, sleep and breathe hockey. Basketball is undoubtedly growing here at Northeastern, and with a winning record and national tournament chances, there’s no doubt that students will show up in force (as they did last year), but the Beanpot embodies that unique local culture that is hard to replicate when students are coming in from the midwest and the sun belt.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly possible to pass on our unique culture and traditions at Northeastern to future generations of students. But if this year’s apathy is any indication, it may be a harder fight to keep the fans coming back than ever before. Even the best efforts of the DogHouse, athletics marketing or the N-Zone won’t be able to wean incoming students off of their addiction to big-time college athletics. They’ll come in having been indoctrinated by the greatness of Duke or UNC, Alabama or Auburn.
It’s up to the diehard fans not to beg for notoriety or special prizes for having gone to every game, every season. It’s up to them to enlighten our new brethren to the joys of Division I athletics in our own little corner of the world. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how close the Grandmarc at Northeastern will be to Matthews Arena – it’ll be too far out of the way for the average new student.
