Save Rhode Island College Gymnastics!
- by: RIC Gymnastics
- recipient: Rhode Island College Department of Athletics
The Rhode Island College Women's Gymnastics team, a division III collegiate gymnastics program, has received news that their program is going to be eliminated in favor of Golf and Swimming. Collegiate gymnastics teams are being cut left and right, and division III gymnastics is small enough as it is. To eliminate one team will create waves among the others. The manner in which we were told was callous and unfeeling, and Student Government has already created their budget for next year, making starting a club team difficult to fund. As it stands right now, we have been cheated out of not one, but two opportunities.
To be able to compete gymnastics at the collegiate level requires lifelong training and commitment. Many of the RIC gymnasts have been doing gymnastics since they were as young as three years old. To have our beloved program cut after we have worked so hard to be where we are is truly an injustice. The RIC gymnasts excel in the classroom and in the community, by having excellent grades and participating in charities such as the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. We are model student-athletes and what has happened to us is completely unwarranted and cruel.
Change and reform was never brought about by being complacent and idle. You have to fight for what you believe in, and fight for what is right. We believe that we have earned our place in RIC athletics and that the future for RIC gymnastics is bright.
Please help us save our program. There is power in numbers. Sign the petition to save our team!
We the undersigned believe that the Rhode Island College gymnastics has been dutifully wronged. You have eliminated from your repertoire a program that the gymnasts have worked tirelessly their entire lives to compete for. The manner in which the decision was presented was callous and unfeeling and gave little regard to the sentiments of the athletes. The gymnasts of the RIC Women's gymnastics team are model student-athletes who excel in the classroom and in the community, making many philanthropic contributions to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. With your decision being so late, a starting a club team may even be out of the question, as 2011-2012 budgets have already been finalized. Not only do the athletes feel betrayed and hurt, but the 2012 recruits who were excited to compete for RIC now have their hopes and dreams dashed. We believe that the ladies of RIC gymnastics have earned their place within RIC athletics and do not deserve what has transpired.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and we hope you can reconsider your decision.
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