Stephens All-female College introduces Esports to its varsity program
Who said girl students can’t become Esports pros? Not Stephens College, which is introducing an Esports varsity program to its attenders.
Based in Columbia, Missouri, the all-female college will be the first ever in history to start an esports effort. According to a report by ESPN, the Stephens College Stars will start their first batch of competition in the Fall of 2017, playing Overtwatch in the Tespa series.
The decision was made by Stephens College president Dianne Lynch along with other decision makers. Things appeared to fall into place for Lynch and the college in terms of sponsoring the roster. The choice fell on Overwatch for a start, as it’s a game that received many accolades for its character diversity and inclusiveness.
In response to the question, “Gaming provides an opportunity for men and women to compete together, on an even field. So why are so few women reaching the top levels?” Lynch responded, “Our mission is to ensure that women can succeed and can make choices about anything they do in any environment and in any profession. That’s our mission. So why would we not do it in esports?”
Collegiate esports is currently spreading in North America with many university following suit. It can only be a good and positive sign for the future of competitive video gaming as a profession.
