New York, NY -- Any bit of information worthy of record that can be catalogued or filed shows up in some form on the nebulous superstructure that society has affectionately named the Internet. Even the smallest factoid seems to have garnered its own niche, its own homepage, as info-hungry, computer screen-blinded automatons point-and-click their way to slaking their insatiable appetites.
If your interest is as common as current events or as remote as underwater basket weaving, there is a ".com" to be found. But for those who were initially confounded by the card catalogue, the online world has served only to further the chasm between the info-haves and the info-have-nots.
Sad but true, NYU has caved in to the electronic publishing pressure and has given their students - prospective, current, and alumni - the digital gift of nyu.edu. Every aspect of NYU is presented in a brilliant purple and white, from admissions standards to a virtual campus tour. But NYU has neglected an aspect online, an aspect that they've similarly neglected in the tangible, flesh-and-blood world. Though they give a small modicum of reportage to their athletic teams, any Violet enthusiast is relegated to mere online press clippings. A visit on nyu.edu may give the server a certain sense of supplying the student body with adequate information, but leaves the surfer with only tidbits.
NYU's sport coverage on their website is cursory at best, only glossing over the major achievements of its athletes. Plainly paraphrasing a commercial icon of the '80s, "Where's the beef?" This is not to chastise the NYU online creators, but why can't we have sports links from the homepage. Why not provide the students with individual links to each sport? Perhaps this system would foster an identification with the schoiol's athletes, and thus eradicate the apathy of the student bocy. Websites referencing both the accomplishments and participants of the Violet teans could generate the school spirit that NYU desperately lacks.
The first challenge to such a plan is logistical: How can NYU provide such a service? This reporter is neither volunteering his services (having only learned the intricacies of e-mail an hour ago) nor is he belittling the accomplishments of the website to date. But if such a site can be erected in the first place, surely links can be made to better it. It doesn't seem an unreal request, especially in the light of NYU's apparent desire to form bonds between an otherwise diverse, divisive student population
Look at other large universities. Take the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Kentucky, or North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their populations equal or surpass ours, but they have found common rallying points to unite as a whole. Michigan football, and Wildcat and Tar Heel hoops are the ties that bind those schools. What can NYU counter with as a point of reference, Washington Square Park? Our city is too vast, and our campus too spread out to afford us any other tangible means. Even this ardent technophobe agrees, the Internet is the way.
Some might argue that those are state institutions, already unified by a common geographic bond. It's true, NYU does have a student body of greater breadth than any state school, but waht about Stanford, Duke or any of the Ivy League schools that President Oliva so desperately covets. All of them share the common links of Cardinals, Blue Devils, etc. It pains an NYU styudent to even admit he's a Violet. But despite the unimposing nature of the nickname, NYU is still quantum leaps behind other major universities.
We can't seem to compete socially with other schools for the fact that everyone has their own scene. Not that we should strive for conformity, but at least we should make an effort towards unity. Twenty years from now, Michigan grads will chant "Hail to the Victors" and Notre Dame alumns will be nostalgic for Touchdown Jesus, but we'll have only memories of bad techno music or the interior architecture of the Palladium.
And while we can't but back a century of tradition, we should not give the next century to the same rehashed lethargy. It's not enough that the city sells NYU; the university is going to have to sell itself, and advertising the sports program is a perfect place to start. A fine model for this proposal is already contained within the NYU site. By accessing the information regarding club sports through the icon of Sports and Athletics, an entire vista of sports opportunities is open to the interested browser. Unfortunately, of the 30-plus club and 20-plus intercollegiate sports, only one team has set up a website for the edification of present fans or the attraction of new ones. And while no one individual is particularly to blame for this inadequacy, the whole university must shoulder its consequences.
The one diamond in the rough world of cyberspace has been established for the betterment of the NYU Ice Hockey team. A club sport, this team is advertised efficiently and creatively with a link to the aforementioned site. The information is therefore pertinent and accessable. The web page greets a fan with a team photo, instantly creating a personal connection between an otherwise faceless gaggle of athletes. Even if a browser fell upon this site by accident, he'll feel compelled to continue to related links for the site's sheer novelty and presentation.
Also contained withinis a comprehensive team schedule of the previous season, or current depending on when the site is visited. The schedule, listed chronologically, provides a fan with all the facts apropos to following a hockey team. There is a listing of each game and its corresponding score. The time and location of each contest is included to elaborate the 14-13 Violet season.
Fortunately, a fan can legitimately follow the hockey Violets requiring little else as a research tool. Scrolling down, one may find an alphabetical team roster. Every player is listed accompanied by his position and jersey number. In addition, his hometown and high school are displayed alongside his playing weight and height. The site now takes the form of a media guide, legitimizing this team in the eyes of a browser. No other NYU team is afforded such luxuries.
For further identification, each player, coach or team manager is outfitted with his or her own individual link which displays that member's vital and seasonal statistics. There is a space that indicates an incomplete field of information, and apparently next season's update will include player photos. To date, only coaches are shown. Imagine the effect that such photos will have on the day-to-day around Main Building. "Oh I know you, you're Jon Hsia, the alternate captain on the NYU ice hockey team Aren't you also in my natural science class. Yeah, it is boring. What time is the game tonight? I'll be there!" And that is only the tip of the Internet iceberg; and unlike Titanic, this one won't sink school spirit but rather set it afloat for the first time.
For the stat conscious, a complete game-by-game analysis is enclosed including numbers of goals, assists, points, penalties, and plus-minus. All 27 games receive their own box scores, each player an individual stat line. Someone in Bobst asks, "Did you see Kirk Shimizuishi play last night? Four goald, five points. I didn't even care that we lost to Hofstra!" Understand that sports only works if there are fans, and fans only come if they can identify with their team. Hence, no NYU fans. Enter the web site.
As if this wasn't wnough, this link even provides a link to the NYU Ice Hockeu "Unofficial" Web Page. No other team has any sites, and the industrious ice hockey team has generated two. On the unofficial site, you can find information pertaining to teams of the pastand the history of NYU Ice Hockey. Did you know that NYU's first hockey victory was a 3-2 win over Stuyvesant High School in 1912? Give them a break, it was an expansion year, they only scheduled three games (Mohegan Military Academy, West Point, and the high school squad).
In the final analysis, applaud the ice hockey team and demand more from their contemporaries. Their apathy is furthering yours. They complain they have no fans, you complain you have no teams, the WSN reporting staff complains they have nothing to write about. LEt the techno-inclined do us all a favor: put the University back in NYU.