With admissions season in full swing, many colleges across the country have begun boasting their unique academic programs, student organizations, and career advancement opportunities. However, amidst the bustle, we feel Emerson College is missing an essential piece. For high school seniors who are deciding what their perfect college is, along with strong academics and student life, various competitive sports teams are major selling points. 

While we may all joke about the Emerson football team’s winning streak, the consequences of not having a sports-generated community are more impactful than we think. Team sports provide not only social interactions, but also stress reduction and a sense of purpose. 

This affects prospective students’ choices as well. Sports culture is known to generate a sense of school spirit and community, which can sometimes be lacking at Emerson. As students from high schools with strong sports programs (and familiar with fan bases at state colleges), we have personally seen how sports create an easy entry point to social groups, school traditions, and school pride.

This is especially pertinent in a city like Boston with sports fans across New England of the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins. At Emerson, many students may feel disconnected from this culture, especially when comparing their experience to students at similar NEWMAC schools such as Clark, WPI and Mount Holyoke who sponsor the two sports we feel should be added to Emerson athletics: rowing and field hockey. Watching sports games at other colleges, and even watching other Lions sports games, makes us wish Emerson had the popular sports that we are passionate about.

As students, we have all found ourselves unable to pursue our passions at the collegiate level at Emerson, instead opting for small club teams and adult leagues outside and around Boston, which has led to a sense of frustration. While the fitness center is an option for generic workouts, the sense of community built from team sports cannot be matched by lifting weights or running on a treadmill. 

As athletes ourselves, rowing and field hockey should be implemented into Emerson College. 

Anna

I’ve been playing field hockey since I was six years old. In high school, I actually began the recruiting process to play field hockey in college. However, I ultimately decided to shift my focus to academics and look for schools with other opportunities to play, as not many Div. III schools had both a journalism major and a field hockey team. When I was deciding between Emerson and a couple of other schools in April of 2023, it was a drawback for me that Emerson didn’t even have club field hockey, let alone an official team. Many of my friends and teammates from high school play on club teams at their big state schools or tried to walk onto/get recruited for official teams at smaller schools.

Last year, I joined an adult league so that I could continue playing. My friend and I made the hour(plus)-long journey to Medford on public transportation once a week, to play games anywhere from 7-10 p.m. However, this year will be the first in almost 15 that I’m not playing, as the game schedule just does not line up with an out-of-state college student’s, and it’s a pretty steep price to only be able to play a couple of games.

To me, hockey exemplifies community. Most of my close friends from home are girls I grew up playing with, and my mom coached my team from when I started playing until high school. At a small (honestly, kind of clique-y) school like Emerson, I would have liked to bond with people on a field hockey team.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask for a team, as virtually every other school in our conference has field hockey. Different sports teams can definitely influence whether prospective students lean toward one school or another. Though there are some other options in the area, they are simply not feasible for a busy college student year after year like an official team would be.

Iselin

When first looking at colleges, I didn’t glance twice at Emerson. I was in the middle of possible recruitment for my sport and so I had looked at every major college in Boston except for Emerson as, due to Boston hosting one of the biggest rowing races in the world, I was sure I would move to the city for the sport. It wasn’t until I was urged by family to look at the journalism program here that I considered it.

Like many athletes, rowing was, and still is, more than just a sport for me; it’s been a source of discipline, balance, and most importantly, a kind of therapy. Being on the water has played a crucial role in my mental health, offering a sense of stability even in the most stressful times. 

After assessing Emerson, I had to reckon with the idea that I would not be able to pursue being a student-athlete. Instead, I put my potential career first and set aside the sport that had been my world for the past five years. Now, being at Emerson, I have to commute to Cambridge to row, about 45 minutes on the T, which, when I’m trying to make a 6 a.m. practice time, is not the most accessible.

Surprisingly, Simmons College, located just down the street from Emerson, rows out of the club I’m now a member of, proving how even small schools without the funds for their own boathouse can have their own teams. This shared arrangement has allowed schools to provide student-athletes with opportunities to train and compete in a sport that might otherwise be inaccessible due to budgetary constraints. It also implements them into a broader community in Boston, allowing students to engage with those outside of the college, something incredibly important for making lifelong connections and fostering a presence for Emerson in the Boston area.

Daniel

As a rower for three seasons and a field hockey player for two, I find myself strongly supporting both sides. Being a student-athlete in high school not only helped me find the value in hard work, but it also forged relationships and memories that will last a lifetime. I can still perfectly envision the moment my team won the league championship in field hockey or when I won a race in a quad boat with only two rowers.

While there is a clear difference in the level of competition and amount of preparation needed between college and high school teams, I believe the bonds made in college exceed those made in high school. Anyone at Emerson can easily point out how many of the players on each team, from volleyball to baseball, have strong friendships. In an unfamiliar time for many people starting college, teams can provide that welcoming atmosphere and support.

That was the case for me in high school as I was coming off my remote learning freshman year devoid of many opportunities to meet new people. The rowing team at my high school allowed me to meet so many people, break out of my shell more, and brought me to starting field hockey. The field hockey team welcomed me with open arms, since the assistant coach also coached rowing; and now, almost three years later, I’ll be returning as an assistant coach for the second season.

Now being the one standing on the sidelines rather than on the field, I can’t help but want to play again. I would take every opportunity to demonstrate drills and use it to motivate my players that if I can still do it, so can they. When the end of the semester rolls around, I already see myself wanting to go to all my rowing team’s races to cheer them on and feeling that desire to play again.

It could be a long shot, and there’s a good chance we wouldn’t see any of these teams come to fruition until after I graduate, but I want to push for these teams for the future Emerson students who deserve the chance to continue playing the sports they love.

While we realize it isn’t as easy as just adding a sport, we think field hockey and rowing are realistic future possibilities. Many nearby schools row on the Charles River right in our backyard, and Rotch Field would only need a few more lines to accommodate a field hockey team.