Final Note on the Save the Barnard Pool Campaign

[Barnard Community]

Dear Save the Barnard Pool Campaigners and supporters,

It is with deep sadness that we have watched the Barnard Pool close at the end of this past semester. We put all our efforts and support behind trying to keep the pool open -- through hosting meetings, sending out petitions, and repeatedly contacting both administrators and trustees over the course of the past year.

Unfortunately, as we continued to press on the administration about their decision to close the pool, we ran into greater and greater obstacles with regards to Barnard's budget and fundraising initiatives. Before it was announced to the general public, we were informed that the pool's closure was motivated by the need for "swing space" during the construction of a new library and that it was important to "balancing the budget" before the capital campaign to raise funds for that project could commence.

Due to these major challenges, we found ourselves trying to develop proposals that would not result in the closure of our beloved pool. We are still talking to current student leaders to see whether they can press for a compromise that would require -- in writing -- that they will rebuild a pool once construction of the library is completed. However, at the end of this year, the pool was indeed closed and will remain so.

We thank you for your continued support and interest in the campaign; we appreciated your voices at every meeting and in every email. We were pleased to see you attend the final pool party at the end of this year. Keep swimming.

Sincerely,

The Save the Barnard Pool Campaign