As the grass gets torn up and the stands are taken down on Harbin field, students may be fooled into believing that the construction there is a further sign of progress on campus. Unfortunately, the rolling construction equipment draws attention from yet another mistake in the University’s financial priorities.
The new “multi-sport” facility-all $22.5 million of it-will be little more than an aesthetic improvement over the existing facilities. The “multi-sport” tag is merely advertising language, meant to confuse students into believing it will host far more sports than it currently does. The only sport that will join football and lacrosse on Harbin Field will be soccer. Like the other two, it only requires an open, grassy playing field.
The construction will undoubtedly lead to road closures and delays for students. This first phase of construction will involve replacing the grass with Astroturf, which will allow athletic teams to practice outdoors year-round. In future phases, eye-catching American Gothic-style bleachers will be built and a new weight room, press box, locker rooms and scoreboard will be added on. While this may sound somewhat substantial, the renovations will not change the way most students use Harbin field, attending the occasional game, as the plan adds only 500 additional seats. The improvements, namely the weight, training and locker rooms, will only be used by a small minority of students and are analagous to facilities already availble in Yates Field House.
There is nothing students can do to stop the renovations on Harbin field. $22.5 million that could have gone to better use will be poured onto that grassy rectangle, and we will be left to watch.
With tuition increases, the new cost of studying abroad, the new costs of the living wage and the continuing financial problems at the Medical Center, we should remember this project wasted $22.5 million dollars. There is no doubt that our athletes deserve the best facilities we can give them, but is this something we can afford now? Similarly, the possibility that increased prestige will lead to donations is tempting, but certainly not a sound investment. If we do not demand that the University spend our money responsibly, we cannot absolve ourselves of guilt for Georgetown’s financial woes. If the University cannot get its priorities straight, students need to play closer attention to the University’s projects so they can change them before construction renders any debate moot.
