As a proud member of the Franklin and Marshall College community, I am deeply concerned about the potential discontinuation of the "Email-for-life" program. This petition aims to urge the administration to reconsider their decision and continue providing this essential service to all current and future students.

In 2012, F&M promised students and alumni "email-for-life."  

Email has become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a primary means of communication for both personal and professional matters. It allows us to connect with friends, family, colleagues, professors, and potential employers. In today's digital age, email access is not just a convenience but an absolute necessity.

The "Email-for-life" program at Franklin and Marshall College has been instrumental in ensuring equitable access to modern society for its students. By providing lifelong email accounts for alumni, F&M fosters a sense of belonging within its community even after graduation. This invaluable resource allows alumni to stay connected with each other as well as with the college itself.

According to recent studies conducted by Pew Research Center (2019), over 90% of adults in the United States use email regularly. Moreover, research from Radicati Group (2020) indicates that there are approximately 4 billion active email users worldwide. These statistics clearly demonstrate how deeply ingrained email has become in our lives.

By discontinuing the "Email-for-life" program at F&M College, we risk leaving our alumni without a reliable means of communication that they have come to rely on throughout their time here. It would be unfair and unjustifiable for any institution to deny its graduates this vital tool that connects them not only professionally but also emotionally with their alma mater.

Therefore, I implore the administration of Franklin and Marshall College to reconsider their decision and continue providing the "Email-for-life" program. Let us ensure that all current and future students, as well as alumni, have access to this essential function of modern life. Together, we can preserve equitable access to communication for all members of our community.

This petition proposes that "Email-for-life" continues as a "opt-in" model, reducing the overall number of accounts while continuing the service.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]