Following is a letter delivered by Save Furman Baseball to Furman University President Elizabeth Davis, Furman Athletics Director Jason Donnelly and members of the Furman Board of Trustees requesting a reconsideration of the decision to eliminate the 124-year-old baseball program in May of 2020 and an opportunity to raise money to fund its reinstatement:
Dear Dr. Davis, Mr. Donnelly and Board of Trustees,
We hope this letter finds you well as it has been a tiresome and grueling year since the pandemic began. This unprecedented crisis led to some financial uncertainty and difficult decisions for the university, but we are heartened to see that Furman’s leadership has created a stronger current standing and brighter future than expected. Because of this, we are asking you to work with us to reinstate Furman baseball.
We believe there are compelling, sensible reasons to do so. It would be a positive, feel-good story that would garner national media attention while also reestablishing Furman’s reputation for stability among prospective students and building on the momentum created by a recent series of successful fundraising initiatives.
Over the past year, alumni and friends of the university have shown an obvious willingness to provide support when asked and given the opportunity. For example:
- $25 million grant from the Duke Endowment
- $6.1 million gift to the music department by the Herrings
- $4 million given by Dr. Matthew Wilson toward the IACH fund
- $5,049,284 given by 702 donors toward the Furman Athletic Fund, far exceeding the goal of $1 million • $1,454,692 raised on Dins Day
- $353,552 on Giving Tuesday, which also exceeded 2019’s total
Reinstating baseball will generate additional money towards the Furman Athletics Fund—something that the Save Furman Baseball group will actively promote. Additionally, the non-scholarship players paying tuition make the baseball program a net positive for the university. These generous donations and player tuition payments combined with the stabilization of the endowment (the markets are up 37 percent since May 18, 2020) make it financially feasible to reinstate the program. We are ready to step up to the plate and be a vital part of Furman’s athletic future.
The return of baseball would also enrich the campus experience for all. Adding 35 male students to a student population that is currently 61 percent female will assist in balancing this lopsided ratio, while a roster consisting of students from many different socioeconomic backgrounds and communities will help Furman maintain its commitment to diversity.
Baseball can also make a positive impact on Greenville and the Upstate because of an established history of philanthropic work unrivaled by any other sports team on campus. Between visiting students in classrooms, volunteering in the community and its annual work with the VS. Cancer foundation, baseball presents one of the strongest images of Furman to the region and nation.
Lastly, baseball was the second-oldest sport on campus, with a rich and irreplaceable 124-year history that has seen the program survive some of the greatest challenges the world has ever faced. If the university could find a way to overcome the Great Depression and two world wars with baseball intact, we feel certain the Furman family can find a way through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Save Furman Baseball and its more than 160 baseball alumni are ready to come to the table and raise money to reinstate the program. We request an active commitment from the leadership of Furman University in the form of a fundraising goal and plan. We love our alma mater. We love our baseball program, and we believe that both are incomplete without the other.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to hear from you soon and would relish the opportunity to meet with any of you in person to discuss.
Sincerely,
Save Furman Baseball
