This petition is an online collection of the names of those who have not attended Corpus but who nevertheless oppose the closure of the college's grounds. It was announced to the student body at the start of this Hilary Term that the sportsground will close at Easter. Mike the groundsman has been given three months' notice that he will not only lose his job, but also his flat. Sports facilities will only be provided via a groundshare with University College and it has been suggested that sports teams should end up merging with Univ, to the detriment of college spirit and also long-standing alliances (eg Linacre). As well as signing here, please also convey your disapproval at this plan to the college. We suggest sending emails to The President, Richard Cawardine [email protected] The Domestic Bursar, Colin Holmes [email protected] The Bursar, Ben Ruck Keene [email protected] Director of Development, Nick Thorn [email protected] Postal versions can of course be sent to: Corpus Christi College, Merton Street, Oxford, OX1 4JF. Some points for possible inclusion: 1) Corpus has a proud and lengthy, if not always massively successful, sporting history. 2) Many of us while in residence enjoyed the sporting provision of the college as part of a rounded education. Future generations of students deserve the same opportunities. 3) Weeks after the opening of an excellent new facility for drama and music and the successful raising of £10m+ through the alumni appeal it seems jarring to damage so severely the cross-curricular life of the college. 4) This will materially adversely affect admissions. The college has claimed that the move is necessary for health and safety reasons in terms of ambulance access (yet Pembroke who share the site seem not to share this concern), because the pitches do not drain well (yet Mike has frequently got games on when other colleges have failed) and on financial grounds (yet this decision comes weeks after the successful conclusion of the Corpus appeal and will irreparably damage the sporting life of the college).