Trinity Construction: Upgrading Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts at Trinity University in midst of upgrade. Photo: Digital Subway

In the wake of recession, most universities' endowments suffered a major blow. However, anyone would be skeptical to believe this given the aggressiveness of construction projects at Trinity University. A perfectly good tennis court in great condition, with a capacity for eight simultaneous games was torn down for an upgrade right before our eyes. I overheard a Trinity student saying, "They took down a freakin' good tennis court, it better look damn good once it's completed."

This is how the tennis courts shown above looked before  upgrade. Source:  http://bit.ly/qV7EQR

The administration has proclaimed that the tennis court was in dire need for a major face-lift, additional seating capacity, shading for spectators, a scoreboard and extra space between individual courts. It can be agreed that shading, scoreboard and extra spaces are welcome attributes to an already awesome tennis court in red and green. However, it will be an arduous task to find supporters who would agree that the tennis ground itself needed a major face-lift. 

Tennis Court beside Murchison is also being upgraded. Photo: Digital Subway

Spending more than 2 million dollars for just adding shade, extra space between courts and a scoreboard appears as an imprudent move in terms of economics and value obtained. However, there is little room for argument among amateur economists (including me) when decisions like these are thoughtfully approved by economic scholar and university president Dr. Dennis Ahlburg and other wise board members in the light of all possible investment opportunities.

Through my lens at Commonwealth Games

Lots of media coverage has been devoted to Commonwealth games being hosted in Delhi 2010 this year, mostly negative publicity. After reading so much, I could not take it anymore and decided to write a couple words about it. First of all, India has come under intense criticism from participating countries about inadequate sanitation in residence quarters provided to top global athletes. Everyone has just stepped in to add more criticism. But I see this as insensitive and in a way racist too.

To expect same sanitation in India as some other developed countries such as New Zealand, the UK or the US is unjustified and unreasonable. Do you expect a nation to change its system in a couple of months for hosting a single game? India suffers from inadequate infrastructure (relative to most developed countries) but it can not build wider roads or sturdier bridges just like that ahead of Commonwealth games. If it did, that would be magic. To criticize its standards so vehemently is insensitive. Foreign delegates and athletes probably have never experienced poverty or lived in conditions as most Indians do. Rising income of middle class in India is a myth since they are mostly limited in urban areas. Now that they are suddenly exposed to it, instead of acknowledging that conditions people inhabit in India are surprising and pitiable, they have chosen to show anger.

Athletes and delegates from participating countries are angry at organizers of Commonwealth games for providing them residence facilities characteristic of a common Indian instead of providing them five star like luxurious suites. Intense paranoia involved around inadequate sanitation facilities is also expected as westerners are freaks when it comes to sanitation. If a few cases of flu are seen in a region hundreds of miles away, suddenly hand sanitizers start appearing everywhere, in schools, universities, workplaces, restaurants and even public transport. Media has exaggerated the details about lack of sanitation anyway. 

Anytime a developing country organizes a big sporting event, westerns always have a problem with it. It was not long ago that South Africa organized FIFA world cup football 2010 which was complained for its excessive noise produced by vuvuzelas. Expect more vuvuzelas for next world cup football to be organized in Brazil in 2014. And maybe more problems too since it is also a developing country.

Now there is another problem with Commonweath games in Delhi- low turnout of spectators. Empty seats during games are starting to worry everyone. It is expected though. Why would Indians go watch games that has tainted image of their nation so badly? Cricket matches that are being played simulataneously are keeping them pretty well entertained. And prices for commonwealth games seats wouldn't be cheap by indian standards anyway.

The biggest problem I see is with this concept of Commonwealth games itself. A game between nations that were colonized by Great Britain. Really? You want to bring up those memories of being colonized and preserve the legacy? Why bring it up again then, through a sporting event? There are Olympics and continental games such as Asian games and European competitions. Anyway, foreign media may criticize all they want but that will only show their insensitivity, intolerance and innate racism.

Beating Summer with Aqua Sports

I can not stop talking about the FIFA World Cup 2010. I know there are so many upsets and unpredictable results. The only clear winner uptill now that has not suffered any setbacks are Brazil and Argentina. Brazil all the way.

Putting aside World Cup talk, I want to describe about my weekend. I went tubing in Guadalupe River with my friends. It was so much FUN. The atmosphere was just so jovial. All you do is rent a tube and you can bring your own booze. You could drink while tubing in the river. That's what most people did and social lubricant as it is rightly called, overcame awkwardness and people spoke to others who were no more strangers. A woman fell in love with my sunglasses and pleaded to exchange mine with hers. After I said No, she got off her tube and came to mine, neck deep in water and started flirting.

Tubing is really fun. Of course you never know unless you try for yourself. In the later evening, we went to a state park and camped there. I learnt to set up the tent with instructions from my friend Lawrence. Sawan barbequed some very juicy chicken and beef patties. The dinner felt great after an exhausting afternoon adventure.

The Camp that Lawrence and I set up. Photo: Digital Subway

Next day, we went to Austin and did canoeing and kayaking. My arm muscles ached after more than 2 and a half hours constant rowing in the river. The weekend was very aqua-sport intensive but I definitely enjoyed it a lot. I wet my camera and it stopped working. I do not have pictures yet so I will post them later

The World Cup has Made me Alive Again

The wait is finally over. The World Cup fever has begun and with it the whole world has joined hands together to watch this wonderful charismatic game of football. No, I will not say it as soccer. Americans should name their game of football as handball because that is what it really is. The only time they use foot is while kicking it from the 10 yard line or something, I don't know.

We say enjoy it while you're still young. Watching world cup and realizing that millions and certainly bilions are watching it across teh globe makes you feel young again. Staying away from home for two years is a long time and it can emotionally drain any human being. That's how immigrants have to live in their emigrant country. I was starting to get tired of this monotonous life. College too had started to seem like to be a routine and everyday brought mundane assignments. Weekends brought less relaxation than project deadlines. I had lost touch with my culture, religion and festivals. I have been twice to a temple, once this year and once last year. Sometimes, you feel you are lost in translation, as they say. That was exactly what had happened to me. And I imagine it happens to all of us.

Then today as the World Cup kicked off, I realized I was filled with life again. Seeing the whole world and less so Americans probably rise up to the euphoria made me feel so happy again. Two years of detached college life that had stripped me of excitement and connection with my culture was revived again by imagining myself four years ago and reminisicng the company I had enjoyed while rooting for favorite teams and cursing opponents. It all seemed to come back again. I know I am being carried away a little and some of this may appear exaggeration but I felt a genuine excitement for something after a very long time while watching the game. No, SuperBowl never succeeded in doing the same. A single day event spanning a couple hours can hardly have the same effect. The first time I watched SuperBowl was to see advertisments. I am not kidding.