EVER WANTED TO go to a basketball game but couldn’t because you had too much homework?

Pretty soon, you’ll be able to watch the game anyway.

Urbana Public Television, the public access cable channel that broadcasts Urbana City Council meetings and other local fare on Channel 6, has been working with students at Urbana High School for three months to show their sports events.

The program is now expanding to Uni and will give students the opportunity to get hands-on camera and commentating experience.

"We are excited to add University High School sports to our lineup," said Kate Gorman, the UPTV station manager.

The opportunity to help out with the broadcasts is open to at least four students. The participants would be able to choose between working as a camera operator or a commentator. For more information concerning the program, students should contact Athletic Director Sally Walker at swalker6@uni.uiuc.edu.

The training would be done on the job and will be overseen by qualified employees from UPTV, so no prior television experience is necessary.

The first broadcast will most likely be the Jan. 31 Senior Night girls basketball game between Uni and Normal Calvary Baptist.

Following this would come broadcasts of the boys games against DeLand-Weldon on Feb. 5 and Georgetown Notre Dame LaSalette on Feb. 6, which is Senior Night for the boys.

This program became a possibility last year when Bill DeJarnette from the Urbana city government approached Walker with the idea.

Although DeJarnette is best known at Uni as the former boys and girls varsity soccer coach, he is also the information services manager for the city of Urbana, and part of his job includes publicizing community events.

“This is his job,” explained Walker. “He wants to have the community represented, and Uni is part of the community.”

If the program is successful, it will continue next year and might expand to televising events other than sports.

“I hope that some of our students get some great experience in camera work and commentating that may help them in their future,” said Walker. “I hope that some members of our community while viewing will see a side of Uni that they have never seen before and will be impressed with things that we do at this school.”