I wasn’t supposed to end up in this place. Coming to Columbia nearly four years ago, I knew I wanted to get involved in some sort of extracurricular activity, but I presumed it was going to be something comprising a mixture of law and politics. Yet during my first week on campus, I blindly followed one of my floormates to a small office on 112th and Broadway upon hearing there would be sports fans there. What I found was a place that would bring me my highest highs and lowest lows at Columbia, with a set of ridiculous stories in between. I ended up spending the majority of my nights at this school in that little office, praying that the computers wouldn’t die on us close to PDF time—and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Before getting all sentimental though, there are still a few things I think need to be said on the state of Columbia sports and this paper.
Columbia athletics, contrary to popular belief and many sentiments held by people on this campus, are getting better. Many programs that languished in the cellars when I got here—baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, and men’s rowing—have become competitive compared to their Ivy counterparts in the intervening seasons, mostly due to coaches who know their personnel well and can recruit with the best in the Ancient Eight.
In addition, there is a feeling among some students that athletes shouldn’t be here, but the stereotype that the athletes here are just unintelligent jocks may hold for a very select few on this campus. The overwhelming sentiment I have gathered when speaking to, and becoming friends with, them has been that they are just as deserving of being here as any of the rest of us.
Before becoming too much of an athletics apologist, however, there are certainly things that need to be fixed within the department. First and foremost to be tackled is the marketing of athletics on this campus. To say that the marketing plans of Columbia sports are anything above atrocious would be a flat-out lie. Canceling Midnight Mania in favor of a rewards program was one of the single worst decisions by any department in my time at this school, and it continues to perplex me as to why Columbia Athletics would forego its most popular event outside of homecoming.
As I have stated many times before, and will for the final time here, winners get people to games. The reason why students came out to basketball games this season was because the team was actually competitive and made games exciting. When people know that the outcome of a sporting event won’t be a blowout in favor of Columbia’s opponent, there is an impetus to actually support the team, as student support can lead them to victory. The marketing department’s half-hearted efforts to get students to games by giving them free things is not only demeaning, but completely ineffective. To the two-headed brain trust behind these promotions: End them, and come up with something else.
Outside of the flawed marketing campaigns continuing to drag down the athletic department, M. Dianne Murphy, director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, needs to fire coaches who do not get the job done. Her hires, outside of Leo Chappel, have been able to bring their teams to a level of respectability within the Ivy League, not to mention a few winners like Rich Mueller in golf and Brett Boretti in baseball. Still, the fact that coaches like Kerri Whitaker have a job despite abysmal league records confounds me. My personal theory about coaches is that they deserve four seasons to bring their teams within competitive striking distance of a title. This way, every athlete they have will have been a recruit of theirs and the administration can make an accurate judgment about how well they are doing. Coach Norries Wilson, I’m looking in your direction this upcoming season.
As for Spectator, this place has a tremendously proud history and some amazing writers that have passed through its doors. The friendships forged within the office’s walls are some of the strongest I have seen anywhere on this campus. That said, I have slowly seen the paper degenerate to the point it is at today, and I’m not necessarily sure it will bounce back. The news stories now lack an in-depth perspective, opinion columnists bicker between themselves, and even the sports stories are repetitive. While it isn’t necessarily the fault of the writers themselves—as there are some talented people currently on staff—I haven’t seen that journalistic drive for the bigger story. Most importantly, Spectator has a system of promoting from within its own ranks, and, unlike a professional paper where a new and more experienced editor can be hired, if section editors aren’t passing on quality skills to their associates, the paper will only continue to worsen.
Additionally, Spectator needs to get over the sensitivity of campus groups and students. In the end, this paper is still the main outlet for getting facts out to the majority of people on campus, and while Bwog may have taken some of the breaking news elements away from traditional print media, Spec will be there for the hard-hitting issues. Failing to go after a big story or print the opinions of writers because it may anger certain people within the community is when journalism no longer does its job. The role of a newspaper is to present facts and opinions with the purpose of stirring up public reaction. Otherwise, what is the entire purpose of putting out such a publication for consumption by the masses?
Finally, Spectator needs to continue its push into the online realm. Print media as we know it is dying, and it isn’t going to make a recovery. The new Web site was only a first step, and further actions will be needed in order to make sure Spectator is around in the future. Build a group of ad sales representatives dedicated solely to the Web site, and do it soon. Print advertising is drying up and companies are looking for ways to reach a much broader audience at lower costs. Spectator needs to take advantage of its place in the Morningside Heights community and be a leader in developing advertising strategies for local stores and restaurants. Doing this will help keep the print budget solvent for a longer period of time and produce new ways to enhance online content that are going to be needed in the upcoming months and years.
I know there are people on staff who can make this paper thrive and I truly hope you do, as Spectator is something too valuable to lose.
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I would be remiss if I did not take some words to thank the most important people who have made my time on this campus a memorable one.
Coach Kolombatovich: I have had the luxury and pleasure of covering Columbia’s most successful team for four seasons. Your generosity has been overwhelming and I cannot thank you enough for the access you gave me to both yourself and your fencers.
Current associates/new sports editors: You have all been very impressive in your desire to maintain this section and stepped up at every point that we asked you. I have no doubts that you will be able to bring this section back to where it was. Best of luck.
To the sophomores—Lucas, Sonya, Chris, Kunal, and Sarah: You stepped up big when the section needed you and I know that many of us older editors will never forget that. Thanks for the good memories.
To the Copy table—Darya, Emilie, Bob, and Amy: Why you would choose to read what gets put in this paper everyday will never stop confusing me, but I’m eternally thankful that you did. You were easily the sports section’s extended family and I can’t think of a better group of people to have shared time with in the office.
To the production and photo folks—Pramberger, Will, Laurene, Tami, Haley, and Ben: I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you all. You made the pages look great every night and kept the sports staff (mostly me) in check when we needed it. Thank you for all your help.
To my talented associate class—Matt, Lisa, Holly, Shapiro, Mike, Madeleine, Kavitha, and Finn: Thank you for making all those long nights tremendously enjoyable. We put out some wonderful issues and had some pretty good laughs at the same time (mostly at my expense). Matt, you kept this ship on course and we are all grateful for it. You’ll be getting a call from Omar soon. Lisa, your kindness and talents are limitless. Sorry we have to beat the Nuggets though. Holly, you have burnt orange in your veins, and you are a wonderful person. Thanks for talking football at Westminster, for VY in ’06, and go Horns. Shapiro, you ripped me too many times in PixBox to count, but you are a true friend in the end. If I am ever in Chitown, we’ll grab a Sox game.
Charles: The amount of general knowledge you have is truly incredible. I have no clue when you find the time to learn all of it, but it’s really impressive. From covering softball together freshman year to writing concurrent columns, it’s been a great ride. Have fun up in Purchase.
Shiney: You may have lived on JJ 7, but it was in the production office that I got to know you best. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that you single-handedly saved me on many nights and probably kept my candidacy for sports editor alive during my shadowing week. You’ve been an incredible roommate for two years and an even better friend for four. I’m sure Beijing will be a blast.
Theo: I only knew you for one year, but you were always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. You didn’t hesitate to help me get a job when I was interested in journalism, and without you, this section would not be nearly what it is today.
Anand and Kamran: There were many nights that I lost my cool in the office, but you were always there to help me through it. The encouragement you gave me to improve my writing and editing skills was invaluable and even though you made a lot of jokes, I don’t know two people who helped me more at Spec than you.
Robinson: Of all the people from Spec, you were the person I thought I was least likely to become friends with. In the end, you turned out not only to be one of the most reliable and genuine people I have ever met, but also an incredible friend. Simply put, you are the best writer I know and the Times is lucky to have you on its staff. Thanks for introducing me to the beautiful game and the greatest team on the planet, Arsenal F.C. Let’s go bowling, dude.
Puro: The running joke in the office was always how you ended up at Columbia, but it was never really a mystery. You are incredibly loyal, extremely bright, personable to the utmost degree, and the nicest person I have met on campus. Your knowledge of sports is simply dumbfounding and through all the ribbing, you are undoubtedly one of my closest friends. Thanks for everything, and go blue.
J-Tay: What you did for this section I don’t think can ever be praised enough. That year we spent as co-editors was one of the most mentally and physically exhausting things I have ever done, but there was no way I could have done any of it without you. From putting a supplement together in less than two weeks to dealing with the administration, you had a level head that I didn’t think was possible in this job. Outside of the office, you are an even better friend whose wit is truly unparalleled. It was a pleasure working with you and a privilege to call you a friend.
To the non-paper friends whom I do not have the space to mention here by name, I think you know who you are. From the parties to the late-night poker games, thanks for being exactly what I needed outside of this place.
Thanks for reading.
Jonathan August is a Columbia College senior majoring in economics-philosophy. sports@columbiaspectator.com