Brown Women's Rugby demonstrates what is both excellent and unique about Brown. The team consistently demonstrates a commitment to the academic ideals of Brown while remaining one of the top Division I rugby programs in the nation. The 2010-11 tea of 42 players posted a GPA of 3.5, with 22 players in hard sciences. The team is the reigning Ivy League champion, winning last year's tournament in a 219-point shutout across the field.

This level of excellence comes at a cost. The challenge of raising the annual budget of $80,000 falls to coaches and players and is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Without support from the University, fundraising at this level is not sustainable, and without a promotion to Varsity status, the future of the team is uncertain.

Based on a tradition of excellence in the classroom and on the field - 5 consecutive Ivy championships, 16 All-American players, 3 consecutive appearances at the Final Four level of National play, 7 years ranked top 5 in the US, 8 national team players and 2 World Cup players - we request that Brown elevate the team to Varsity status.

Please show your support by signing this petition an forwarding it to others. Women athletes are underrepresented in the Brown Athletic Department and the University remains out of compliance with Title IX - in both letter and spirit of the law. Elevating the Women's Rugby Team is not only the fair thing to do, it is the right thing to do.

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