STAFF EDITORIAL: Just in Time for Winter

A grand opening ceremony this fall marked the completion of the Dick Savitt Tennis Center. Just east of Columbia's Baker Field athletic facilities, the $5.2 million state-of-the-art facility has six brand new indoor tennis courts with padded floors and contemporary lighting. Though the improvements to the tennis center were sorely needed, tennis facilities closer to campus remain neglected.

Columbia provides a meager two concrete courts above the Dodge Fitness Center. The windy, barren spot between Pupin and Havermeyer is not ideal, but at least it is convenient. Tennis is a popular sport among Columbia students, faculty, and alumni, but unfortunately, it is one that demands much space--one court accommodates four people at most. Columbia's lack of space makes building any new courts on campus both impractical and impossible. And nearby Riverside Park is a costly and inconvenient option.

A lighting system should be installed so that the community can continue to play after dark. The reasoning is similar to that which led to the extension of gym hours last spring. Students and faculty lead busy lives. Many are on a late-night schedule. And especially with the impending end of Daylight Saving Time, the two courts are not always easy to come by. Students certainly shouldn't have to make the trek up to 215th Street. Night is usually when most students have free time. Nocturnal tennis is therefore a reasonable solution.

Progress is made in steps. Columbia University athletics has been undergoing various improvements, from the Savitt Center to a new floor in the Levien Gym. But to install lights on the tennis courts, and to make those courts available into the night, is a feasible small-scale project that would deliver considerable benefit.