We the undersigned are Rhode Island residents and request that CCRI President Meghan Hughes reconsider the implementation of the master facilities plan that would relocate the athletics department to the Flanagan campus in Lincoln for several years.

Our concerns with this plan multifold.

• CCRI should be committed to the healthy and holistic vision of students in Warwick.  Participation in athletics help students develop healthy habits and maintain physical fitness.  Physical exercise also increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins – two benefits that are critical to improving academic performance and reducing anxiety.
• Athletic facilities must be convenient and accessible to the students that are enrolled in Warwick.
• Many CCRI students use public transportation and also hold jobs.  Taking classes in Warwick and participating in athletic activities in Lincoln would not be feasible.
• The basketball team is a source of pride for the Warwick campus and the entire RI community.  The team has earned 18 regional championships and consistently ranks in the top 20 in national rankings.  The court surface in Lincoln is rubberized which can lead to patellar tendinitis, increased ankle and knee sprains and “turf toe” for players.  
In CCRI’s mission statement it states that “we respond to community needs.” We are asking President Meghan Hughes to hear the voice of her student community, to understand the implications of moving the athletic department indefinitely to Lincoln and to reconsider her decision.