Ursinus Student Starts Petition to Save ESPN

In response to recent discussions between students and staff regarding the possibility of removing ESPN from the Ursinus lineup, one student has collected over 70 signatures on the “Keep ESPN” petition on Change.org.

According to school officials, the sports channels (ESPN, ESPN News, ESPN2, ESPN U and ESPN Classic) may be on the chopping block due to is increasing prices – which went up 20 percent in the past two years, and are expected to increase again this year.

The price, however, is no object for some Ursinus sports fans.

Robert D’Annunzio, a sophomore student and member of the Ursinus wrestling team created the petition.

“ESPN is probably one of the most watched channel among students at Ursinus,” the petition preamble states. “Not only for the games, but what would our day be like without waking up and putting on a little sports center in the morning? Or without listening to Steven A and Skip Bayless on first take?

“This talk of taking ESPN off of our TV package is malarkey, and we need to gear up for game day and take a stand!”

According to a Feb. 14 story in The Grizzly, Ursinus's campus newspaper, college officials are sympathetic to students.

“I’m very sympathetic to the situation of the students. I am a sports fan myself. We are going to do everything possible to make it at least possible for students to watch ESPN,” Network Technologies Manager James Shuttlesworth said. “However, I have a budget to work with and unfortunately, ESPN is raising their rates again. This is how they pay for their billion-dollar contracts they keep signing with the NFL and other leagues.“

The school is currently evaluating all options and, according to minutes from a recent Ursinus College Student Government Association meeting, plans to poll students.

For More Reading:

   Ursinus Debates Removing ESPN from Channel Lineup