The goal -- $1 million before Jan. 31 -- is self-imposed. But the Cal men's and women's gymnastics programs feel time is running out on their attempts to raise enough money to make Cal-Berkeley's Athletic Department consider reinstating their teams.
"We have until Jan 31st. That seems to be the date the admin doesn't want to deal with this anymore," wrote Andrew Hampy, a founding member of the Cal Gymnastics Forever group, in a Facebook message sent today.
Cal's beleagured athletic department announced it was cutting several sports, including men's and women's gymnastics, baseball, rugby and women's lacrosse, in September. 2011 will be the last season for all sports except rugby (which will become a club sport) -- if money doesn't appear from elsewhere to keep the programs going.
But despite requests for specific numbers and a timetable, the gymnastics teams have not been given a figure to strive for nor a date when the Athletic Department will give a definitive yes or no about possible reinstatement, Hampy said.
Led by the group Cal Gymnastics Forever, the teams have organized a pledge drive. The goal is to raise $1 million in pledges that it can present to Cal AD Sandy Barbour at the end of January. The baseball and rugby have already received $10 million in pledges, while gymnastics has currently raised about $370,000 in pledges.
If the gymnastics teams could get to $1 million in pledges -- almost enough to fund men's and women's gymnastics for a single season -- the Cal Athletic Department might allow them more time to raise money that would be invested to keep the programs alive long-term.
"None of this is a guarantee that they will reconsider but its all we can do," Hampy wrote in the Facebook message to Cal Gymnastics's Forever's 1,833 members. "The athletic department won't give us a number to raise so we have to try to raise all that we can and hope it changes their mind."
Please visit Cal Gymnastics Forever to make a pledge to the teams.
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