The College committee debating whether students should be able to watch cable television in their dorm rooms will not make any recommendations until late in the term and possibly not until next year.
The 11-member committee is charged with assesing whether it is educational and affordable to turn on the cable signal to dorm rooms. Currently all dorm rooms except those in the Choate and Fayerwether clusters have the necessary hardware for cable TV.
At present, cable is available only in common areas.
Director of Residential Operations Woody Eckels, a member of the committee, said thus far the committee has received a nearly unanimous "positive response and feedback in favor of cable television."
Director of Technical Services for Computer Services Punch Taylor, who attended the last meeting of the cable television committee, said that he "can understand why students want cable television to kick back and relax."
Taylor said the committee's decision will be mitigated primarily by questions of cost and affordability. Opposition to cable is related to these issues, and not to questions of educational value and productivity.
"It's hard to oppose," on educational grounds, he said. "It's kind of like being against motherhood and apple pie. I think the educational parts are seen as a plus."
ORL Fiscal Officer Emily Farnham, a committee member, said she is hesistant about allowing cable service into dormitory rooms, but acknowledged that "there are enough people supporting the cable services in the committee."
There was also widespread student support for providing cable services to residence halls.
Student Assembly President Frode Eilertsen '99 said he is strongly in favor of cable services and believes that the committee will ultimately give the go-ahead to Pelton.
"Let me just say that the issue is not whether or not we support cable, because there's no doubt we do," Eilertsen said.
"The issue is how to implement it and who will pay for it," he said. "All we basically are interested in is making sure people know the alternatives ... so that the solution implemented" is the favored solution of the student body.
Many students were unabashed in their support for cable television in residence hall rooms. Alexandra Checka '01 said she strongly supported it and did not "see any reason why they should not allow it."
Damien Williams '01 said he watched a lot of television, and cable in the residence hall rooms would undoubtedly help during those times "you are stuck in your room with nothing to do."
Yet some students expressed concern about the financial impact of the possible approval of cable services. Cable installation in the two remaining dorm clusters, future maintenance costs and cable fees could cost the College up to $1 million -- and some worry that students might have to help defray some of those costs.
Megan Beck '01 said she thinks students should have an option because "some students do not want cable television in their rooms."
And although there seems to be much enthusiasm for on-campus cable, many people said the College should proceed cautiously.
Pelton said the ultimate decision will have to "grow out of some consensus agreement from the students, faculty and appropriate offices of the College."
Farnham said she will reach a decision only after she has received all the information, and added that research is still underway to examine opinions on the matter, as well as the options available to the school.
Taylor said student input is a vital component of this research, but "what they want is mitigated by what it costs."
Eckels has said in the past that the rooms were wired for cable with the full knowledge that the signal might never be activated.
