The USPA just recently restricted graduate students from competing in the USPA Collegiate Nationals after 47 years of allowing ALL full-time students who otherwise meet the requirements. This is a huge detriment to the future of the sport of skydiving! Feel free to copy this letter to send to the USPA, or please sign the petition ( http://www.petitiononline.com/USPAGRAD/petition.html ) if you feel the same way about this unexpected and unnecessary change! To: The United States Parachute Association, Sir or Ma’am, I am writing to express both my concern and dissatisfaction with a recent modification to the 2009 Skydiver’s Competition Manual, specifically in regard to the USPA Collegiate National Skydiving Competition. For many years, full-time students from across the United States have been competing in this competition which gives these individuals a unique opportunity to be active and competitive participants in the sport of skydiving. In fact, this competition gives many of these students their only opportunity to compete in this sport. Upon reviewing the recent changes to the Competition Manual, I became aware that for the first time, full-time graduate students are now barred from entering in this competition. This change came as a shock to not only myself, but also many of my fellow collegiate skydivers. The competition manual outlines specific guidelines for number of credit hours, maximum jump numbers, maximum age, and maximum time in the sport to be eligible to compete in this competition. For many years, graduate students who met those other requirements have been active in this competition, and have been tremendous contributors to the spirit of competition and the skydiving community as a whole. By specifically banning graduate students who otherwise satisfy the other requirements of this competition, the spirit of this incredible opportunity has been destroyed. It has shifted the focus of this event away from friendly competition between fellow full-time students to an elitist club which now unnecessarily bans many dedicated skydivers from their only opportunity to compete in a National Skydiving Championship. The specific status of a student, whether graduate or undergraduate, is an irrelevant criterion upon which to discriminate against full-time college students. If this rule is maintained, the spirit and success of the USPA Collegiate National Competition will be destroyed for all future competitors and participants of the sport of skydiving. As a result of the tremendously high cost of skydiving training, graduate school is often the first opportunity that many rising jumpers will have to allocate the appropriate funding and reach a skill level that is worthy of attending this event. Although some undergraduate students are fortunate enough to have full or partial sponsorship through their institution, the vast majority of college students do not have this outside financial support and can only afford the time and funding to train slowly over the course of several years. Many graduate students, both past and present, who compete at the USPA Collegiate Nationals are those who were unable to do so as undergraduates. It is unnecessary and unfair to ban these young skydivers who will undoubtedly be the future of the sport of skydiving. I hope you will consider the detrimental effect that this change has on not only the Collegiate Skydiving Competition, but also the future of this sport as a whole. Thank you for your time in the re-consideration of this matter. Sincerely, Benjamin Worrall C-35819
