We’ve just launched into spring term here at Choate, and a new season of sports is taking over campus. Students have tossed away their basketballs and hockey gear for baseball bats and lacrosse sticks. Many of the teams are fresh off a week or so in warmer climates, where they prepared for the upcoming season. Although all teams braved suicides in the scorching heat and gave their all during scrimmages, the squads had vastly different experiences when it came to their hotel stays. The quality of lodging that Choate supplied varied significantly, depending on the team. Upon re-arrival to campus, this became a source of aggravation for many of Choate’s athletes.
Trent Schwab ’18 traveled to Florida with the baseball team, and in 80 degrees (or higher) weather, experienced the unlikely: “It was a really fun trip, and it was great to be with the guys, but the AC broke three days into the trip, so it was hot in our room every night. But it builds character, so I was okay with it.” Schwab shared the room with two other players, which added to the already boiling heat. Unfortunately, baseball wasn’t the only team to experience uncomfortable living conditions while on their trip. Members of the boys’ lacrosse team were also displeased with their hotel experience, stating that they would prefer returning to a better hotel after exerting themselves on the field three times a day. Poor food quality in the area, subpar hotel service, and the questionable location of the hotel were among the teams’ qualms.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the crew teams seemed to have no complaints about their living arrangements over the break. Rower Tristan Jamidar ’18 commented, “My hotel was not what I expected, but it was more than sufficient. I shared a pretty large room and a kitchen with three other guys. There were two queen beds, and we doubled up. Sure, it wasn’t the Ritz, but it definitely got the job more than done.” Girls’ crew can attest to this; while they didn’t get kitchenettes, their rooms were still equipped with mini fridges and that enviable air conditioning. In fact, Gabby LaTorre ’17 expressed that this hotel was far nicer than that of previous years.
This begs the question: why is there such a large discrepancy between the different teams’ living accommodations? While the selection of a hotel for preseason may simply depend on availability and pricing, it seems unfair that some teams get better hotels than others. One athlete who would speak only on the condition of anonymity, for fear of upsetting his coaches, said, “I thought it was really unfair that some teams got low quality hotels while other teams lived in nice hotels for a week.” Of course, a hotel may not make or break a vacation. Still, for athletes that pay a substantial amount of money for a preseason trip, it would be expected that solid accommodations be provided. Although complaints about kitchens and bed size are trivial, a lack of air conditioning after sessions of strenuous exercise can be a legitimate problem, if not just uncomfortable. With luck, in the future, the school will address the issue of living inequalities and ensure that all teams are satisfied with their hotel experiences.
