UPDATE: Despite the circumstances and the support shown in this petition, U-M Rec Sports has gone back on their word: they have pushed the appeal extension from one year to two months. Initially, Rec Sports had extended the deadline to April 1, 2021 in hopes of avoiding complications with the current pandemic. This gave Club Boxing one more season to compete while gathering enough information to conduct a thorough appeal. Now, Rec Sports has retracted the extension and pushed up the deadline to July 1, 2020. In order for Club Boxing to continue operating as a Sponsored Student Organization for the 2020-2021 year, they must now appeal the decision in two months time.

ORIGINAL: Amidst the challenges presented by the COVID-19 virus, the University of Michigan Club Boxing team was notified by U-M Recreational Sports and Office of Risk Management that the University would no longer sponsor them as a club sport. After being on campus since 1983, U-M Club Boxing will no longer be able to bear the University's name, logo, or indicia; have access to two of the four boxing rings in Ann Arbor; and must vacate their current training facilities by May 1, 2020, despite the quarantine orders, or else have the equipment in these spaces disposed of by Rec Sports. Appealing the decision is difficult in light of the global pandemic and the mandate that all students return to their family homes; yet, they have been denied an extension by U-M Rec Sports. If U-M Club Boxing is unable to successfully appeal and loses its sponsorship, the U-M Club Boxing team will cease to exist.

This decision to cease support for the team was first presented before the U-M Boxing Executive Board on March 11, 2020, one week before departing for the USIBA National Tournament. U-M Rec Sports and Risk Management claimed that they could not find measures taken by the sport to mitigate the risk of head trauma. U-M Boxing was never consulted nor made aware of the assessment before March 11. We have made ample requests for information on the evidence base behind the decision but have yet to be provided any objective information. Because of the lacking communication, the U-M Club Boxing Executive Board is drafting an appeal and is required to submit their appeal by April 10. Considering the global pandemic, they are having difficulty contacting doctors, USA Boxing officials, and other resources to create a thorough appeal. When they made a request for an extension, however, the request was denied.  This seems somewhat unreasonable given the current state of world affairs. 

The U-M Club Boxing team has impacted the sport and students for over 40 years, and it has been a consistent representation of the striving for excellence that U of M embodies. The U-M Club Boxing Team has been USIBA National Champions 5 of the last 6 competitions, making it the winningest program in USIBA history. In addition, the club has provided students a physical outlet to cope with school stress, experience that often leads to professional opportunities, and skills that go beyond the ring. Moreover, the Boxing Club engenders the spirit of diversity that the University of Michigan touts as a leading principle. Our Club has athletes of varying races and gender identities. Yet, Recreational Sports wants to cut out this opportunity for one of the most diverse groups of student-athletes. If Club Boxing loses its U-M sponsorship, the club will not be able to practice and compete with its 30+ members in Ann Arbor and throughout the country in Columbus, Chicago, Richmond, Georgetown, Atlanta, and many others. Without a successful appeal, U-M Club Boxing as resource on U-M's campus and as a national competitor in college boxing will cease to exist.

Please show support for the U-M Club Boxing in working with Recreational Sports and Risk Management to retain sponsorship and remain in existence as both a source of pride for the University and as a resource for our diverse student athlete population. In order to formulate an appropriate and thorough appeal we are asking for an extension in our timeline and an opportunity to be heard. Given all that is happening in the world, we firmly believe that this is a fair and just request.