Dear USF Community Relations, Student Life, and Facilities Management Teams:

As dedicated members of the Masters swimming team and patrons of the USF swimming pool, we are writing to express our deep concern over the recent decision to change the opening hour of the pool from 6am to 7am on weekdays during the summer months.

We understand that USF cited budget and staffing concerns as the reasons for the decision, but we would like to request that you reconsider this decision as it would significantly impact the future and culture of the Masters swimming team and the wider swimming community. The 6am to 7am hour is one of the most highly utilized hours of the pool, and changing it would severely affect many patrons, including myself, who have developed a regular morning swimming routine. 

Moreover, this decision will particularly impact those who have work or children's schedules that would prevent them from swimming at 7am. The Masters swimming team and broader swimming community has a diverse range of members, and we are united in our love of swimming and the sense of community it fosters. Changing the opening hour of the pool would disrupt this community, and it would be a significant loss for all of us.

We are particularly concerned that this change in schedule will inevitably lead to many swimmers leaving the USF swimming community forever, as they find other pools and patterns of life. Ultimately, this could further exacerbate the facility’s budgetary constraints as its membership base declines.

As committed members of the swimming community, we would like to offer our help and support to find ways to offset the costs of lifeguards and other operating costs of the pool. We are sure that there are creative and collaborative solutions that we could explore to maintain the current 6am opening hour, which is essential for many of us.

We implore you to reconsider your decision to change the opening time of the pool from 6am to 7am on weekdays over the summer. This decision would not only affect the Masters swimming team, but also many patrons of the pool who have made the early morning hours an essential part of their daily routine. Thank you for your attention and consideration.

Sincerely,

The USF Swimming Community