Professional Fundraisers are Hired to Promote Information and Events for Varsity Sports being Cut at UMD

At Maryland, eight varsity sports have been recommended to be cut, including: three men’s track teams (indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, cross-country); men’s and women’s swimming and diving; men’s tennis; women’s water polo; and aerobics and tumbling (also known as competitive cheer). Each team has to raise enough money to sustain its program for the next eight years and only has until June 30^th to complete this almost impossible task. Teams are assigned a professional fundraiser, who will help to plan events and promote the teams through a number of social networking services. Being on the women’s water polo team I am directed affected by the teams being cut and know what we are doing to try to save our program. We go through many technological services to inform the public about what is going on and encourage them to aid the program. We have a Facebook page, “Save UMD Water Polo", and a Twitter account, @MarylandH20polo. These web pages help to promote different events that we hold, such as: raffles, comedy shows, clinics, dinners, and games/tournaments.  Social networking is beneficial because it makes the public aware of current events and services. In this case, setting up Facebook and Twitter to save the water polo program allows students and the water polo community, to recognize that we need help. It makes the issues we are facing at UMD known to the world and it will hopefully motivate people to do something about it.