San Luis Obispo

I am a member of the Cal Poly womenÕs swimming and diving team. I am fully aware of the situation that has played out at UC Davis regarding the financial troubles that could be affecting the athletics program. My sister, Grace Benefield, is attending UCD as a freshman on the swimming and diving team.

What is special about Grace is that when she chose a university to attend, she chose Davis because she saw a great opportunity to explore her academic strengths where she could be proud to receive an undergraduate degree that will follow her for the rest of her life. Without the scholarship that the UCD swim team awarded her for her athletic achievement, she cannot afford the costs of the outstanding education Davis offers.

My sister and I have been swimming from a very young age. Both of us have aspired to attend a university where academics will always come first and we can also seek out our passion of swimming competitively at the college level. Swimming has been a way of life for us and without the college athletic scholarships that are offered at UCD for my sister, she cannot continue to be an Aggie. She will have to choose another university that can suit her academic achievements and athletic abilities.

My sister loves everything about UCD and would hate to have to switch schools based on the fact she canÕt pay for it because of the elimination of the swim team. Winning the Big West Conference is a huge honor for her and she proudly represented UCD. And to be the first womenÕs team to win is a great honor for her and just shows how hard those athletes are willing to work in the pool and in the classroom as well.

Punishing those who are achieving so much academically and athletically is unacceptable. There is always a better solution. Everyone in the athletic department here at Cal Poly is willing to fight with Davis athletics until that solution is found.

Gloria Benefield

San Luis Obispo

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