To all stakeholders of the University of California Esports Initiative (UCEI), we are reaching out for your support to advocate for a fair opportunity for YouSeeEye/TAG at UCI's Overwatch Team to compete for the representation of UCI in the UCEI Invitational.

Background:

The University of California Esports Initiative (UCEI) has been a commendable effort, uniting all UC campuses in a celebration of our vibrant esports communities, with core principles of friendly competition, skill development, and esports visibility. Since its establishment in September 2020, it has provided a unique platform for students to showcase their skills, network, and represent their respective universities with pride and spirit.

Issue:

Unfortunately, our attempts to vie for representation of UCI Overwatch in the upcoming UCEI Invitational have been met with a barrier. The UCI Esports director, Mark Deppe, has denied our request to compete for the spot to represent UCI in the UCEI Invitational. The representation spot has been automatically granted to the UCI Esports Overwatch team. However, we've proven our capability, demonstrated recently by triumphing over the UCI Esports' Overwatch team and thereby eliminating them from playoff contention in the 2023 Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming with final placements of 7th/8th for YouSeeEye/TAG and 36th for UCI Esports. While we respect the director's position and acknowledge there may be existing policies guiding these decisions, we believe our recent performance has set a precedent that warrants reconsideration.

For details behind the match:

Twitch Recording (we are the red team)

Official Match Score: 

Final Placements: 

Action Needed:

We kindly request your support to sign our petition and advocate for a fair opportunity for YouSeeEye/TAG at UCI's Overwatch Team to compete for the representation of UCI in the UCEI Invitational. Allowing an internal competition to determine the representative team would not only uphold UCI's and UCEI's commitment to meritocracy and fair play, but also ensure that our representation in the invitational is robust, competitive, and reflective of our current capabilities. It would send a message that UCI truly backs the spirit of healthy competition, equality, and inclusiveness, which we believe aligns with the principles of UCEI.

We are open and willing to engage in further dialogue with UCI Esports and UCEI, provide additional information, or address any concerns to facilitate a resolution. Your support will significantly impact the fostering of competitive spirit and inclusivity within the UCI Esports community and ensure that UCI’s representation at the UCEI is the best it can be.