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Text of the petition

UGA is not planning to open Legion Pool this summer. The administration cites the pandemic and safety concerns as the reason to keep the pool closed:

"When considering current Centers for Disease Control and Department of Public Health Guidelines, the persisting numbers of positive COVID-19 infections, as well as the uncertainty of when the Pandemic will be sufficiently controlled for us to safely return to normal operations, we have determined Legion Pool will remained closed for the 2021 Summer Season."

Yet, it is safe to host indoor tennis events, basketball games, gymnastics, have the - indoor - Ramsey Center open even during the post-holiday spike, have baseball and of course football. How could Legion Pool be any more dangerous than the Ramsey Center?

We feel that the pool should be opened for the following reasons:

• President Biden has pledged to provide vaccines to all people who want them by May 1. Therefore, most people will be vaccinated. Common sense precautions--ie., temperature checks, masks in high traffic areas, spacing out of lounge chairs, etc.--can be taken to minimize risk. Science is clear that there is no risk of transmission in the pool water itself, and the risk of infection in an outdoor setting is also relatively low.
• UGA has canceled all study abroad programs for the summer. Those faculty, staff and students will be in Athens, needing places to gather and recreate.
• Summer in Georgia is oppressively hot, as we well know. Without viable options, the university and community will be forced to gather inside, contrary to public health guidelines.
• There is a paucity of outdoor pools in Athens. Groups such as Extra Special People and other organizations depend on Legion Pool as an important addition to their summer programs.
• The emotional, mental and physical well-being of faculty, staff and students warrants an open Legion Pool this summer. Families have been in isolation for a year, with almost no physical recreation or social gatherings. Legion Pool provides both recreation and community.
• Legion Pool is an outstanding facility which has contributed to the life of this community for more than eighty years. We feel it is vital to keep it open this summer to continue this tradition, and to ensure the pool's upkeep..

We, the undersigned, ask that Legion Pool be opened this summer. In addition, we ask that the pool season be extended to Labor Day, and finally, that the facility be marketed to students.