The University of California, Santa Barbara's "campus by the sea" attracts students who are intellectually vibrant, physically active and health-minded. Over the years, many thousands of Gauchos have experienced the joy and exhilaration of recreational sports to balance the demands of their academic lives like the cool splash of water on a hot day during an intramural inner tube water polo game, an awe-inspiring outdoor excursion with Adventure Programs, the camaraderie of team bonding during practice and travel, or the excitement of striving to win a national championship.

    Recreational Sports at UC Santa Barbara is one of the largest and most popular student services on campus. Each year, thousands of students are active in 19 intramural sports, 22 intercollegiate sport club teams and 64 Adventure Programs, activities that contribute to a vibrant, healthy, and active campus community. As the Director of Recreational Sports, I oversee programs that teach students to develop essential life skills: competitive achievement, goal setting, teamwork, positive communication, and leadership. Through their active participation, Gauchos learn the values of sportsmanship, integrity and social responsibility. Recreational Sports emphasizes that a lack of skill and/or the inability to pay should not be factors that hinder or stop participation in any sport.

    I am a proud parent of two Gaucho alumni and married to Linda Wright Lee, UCSB class of ' 84. Now, as I begin the 35th year of my career at UC Santa Barbara, I am very concerned by the unprecedented budget challenges faced by our educational system, which have resulted in radical reductions in financial support for our Recreational Sports' programs. Currently, these programs are completely supported by student fee referendums, dues and fees, and gifts from donors. The majority of our budget is derived from the referendums, which dramatically minimize the students' cost for participation beyond the required entry fees and dues. The problem is that these referendums must be reaffirmed every other year and affirmation by student vote is never guaranteed. This makes our budget extremely unstable.

I am asking you to be a "Let Gauchos Play!" campaign leader to help lauch the UCSB Recreational Sports Legacy Fund. No gift is too small. Each donation will make a difference and help establish a wonderful legacy for the well-being of all future Gauchos.

Sincerely,

Paul Lee
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UCSB Department of Recreation
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3025
Phone: 805-893-3908