With the news that about 40 percent of Boston University residencies will have cable television access by Spring 2004, many students living on campus are considering what their lives might be like once the long-awaited service finally hits home.

“It shows progress – I didn’t expect BU to end up doing it,” said Okwuchi Anyawu, a College of Arts and Sciences senior. “Other schools have basic cable …and students don’t even pay for it. I’d take it if it were optional.”

But Tim Cook, a CAS freshman, does not think cable will dramatically affect daily student schedules or activities.

“The only time I’m in my room is to change,” Cook said. “I don’t think it’s really that big of a deal. Even if we had [cable], I don’t think it would change my decision to go here or not.”

While financial responsibility for the television network service has not yet been determined, student opinion varied on whether students themselves should pay for cable access.

“It would be nice for BU to cover the charges, but I’m used to them asking for money just to use the computers,” Anyanwu said. “I guess I wouldn’t mind if another $100 were tacked onto the account.”

CAS junior Micol Sirkin said students should have the option to pay for cable and did not think the fees should not be part of tuition.

“Many students may not want cable and therefore should not have to pay,” Sirkin said.

CAS senior Sean Crowley said he misses the cable he had before he transferred two years ago from the University of Connecticut. Cable was provided at no additional charge, but Crowley said he would pay for it at BU.

“It’s something to have on those nights when it’s cold and you may not want to go out – it’s another option,” Crowley said. “As long as it didn’t cost too much more on top of the student fee that we already have, I wouldn’t mind paying an extra $25 or $50 a semester for it.

“Boston University has a tendency to get high-quality everything,” he continued. “Cable is an amenity people value. It seems like something that’s easy to upgrade, and maybe it would make students that much happier.”