A group of anonymous former Longwood student-athletes created a Letter of Concern in December 2017 directed toward the university's athletics department, expressing concerns over the future of their programs.
The online letter, which currently has 150 signatures, says it wants to add “transparency, accountability and collaborative solutions,” and suggested the athletics department host an open forum to answer questions from alumni and fans.
Of the 150 signatures, 61 of them are by former student-athletes from both the Division II and Division I eras.
Director of Athletics Troy Austin decided to respond to their requests and hold an open forum event called “Lancer Talks” for those who have questions or concerns about Longwood athletics.
The forum is set to be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Capital Ale House in Midlothian, Virginia, according to Assistant Vice President for Athletics Communications Chris Cook. The event will be open to the public, but registration is required.
Cook said the department plans on making this event an annual occurrence to answer questions and listen to concerns the public may have.
The concerns voiced in the letter include the low winning percentage for men’s sports teams since 2006, funding for new athletics facilities, premiums for Lancer Club members and outdated athletics fundraising web presence.
“This is not a finger pointing exercise, rather a way that we can all come together to find a path to improved facilities and success on and off the field," the letter stated.
Additional resources are provided regarding the strategic plans of both Longwood as a whole and the Big South Conference, and comparisons of winning percentages between institutions using data from previous seasons. The final resource is a public document where signees are able to add their specific concerns anonymously.
Although the letter notes the recent success of the softball, women’s soccer and field hockey teams, it questions the abilities of other programs to be successful in Division I athletics.
The writers of the letter declined to comment further and remain anonymous.
Cook released the following statement regarding the event:
“We’re excited to host the first of what will be an annual off-campus gathering between members of the Longwood athletics department and our alumni and fans. This will be an opportunity for us to share updates on the athletics department’s five-year strategic plan, highlight the successes of our student-athletes and programs, and address questions about the past, present and future of Longwood athletics.”
