Please sign and share. (NO FUNDING REQUIRED- funds donated to the petition change.org website DO NOT go to the athletes!)

The gofundme link here will go to the athletes/sport. https://gofund.me/c60cbc81

As an LMU student-athlete I was made to believe that the athletic department’s main goal was to support us in our endeavors. Yet here we are with 6 teams, whose academic and athletic achievements help uphold the athletic department and the University’s image.

On Tuesday Night, January 23, 2024, six collegiate teams at Loyola Marymount University:

• Women’s Swimming
• Men’s Track 
• Mens Cross Country
• Women’s Track
• Women’s Rowing 
• Men’s Rowing 

were given notice that their funding at the end of the 2023-2024 season would be reallocated to support a reduced number of athletic programs with no prior indication of this decision to coaches or athletes. The most devastating part of these circumstances involves the de-evolution of women’s roles in athletics. Before this decision LMU hosted an Athletic community with one of the highest number of female head coaches for sports team with 7 teams being run by women. Now LMU only has 2 teams run by female coaches. One of the recently cut teams, women’s swimming, is spearheaded by a female coach who not only started the swimming program here at LMU but has lead it for the 20 year since then only for it to be cut due to financial reallocation. 

These have been cut due to circumstances veiled in excuses. We demand equity in financial support and the reinstatement of programs that provide opportunities for male and female athletes to reach the next level in their sport as well as continue to set a precedent for having female coaches lead sports teams within the athletic industry. We, the impacted athletes and coaches, require the support of all athletic, academic, and alumni communities to protest and contribute to our endeavors on the path to reinstatement.

I’m writing this because this is something I care about deeply and it won’t happen without the support of people like you. Starting a petition isn’t something I would normally do, but I was moved to do so because of the utter devastation that us athletes, who have worked so hard for this opportunity, feel. I know I’m not alone and together we can make this change happen. Please sign, share and donate! 
https://gofund.me/c60cbc81