Name: Dan Murphy

Affiliation: ESPN

Location: UConn Storrs

Request Date Start: 01/01/2020

Request Date End: 06/08/2020

Details: ESPN is requesting records pertaining to discussions about budget constraints in your institution’s athletic department and the potential of eliminating varsity sports programs. We understand the terminology used in these discussions may be broad and vary, making it difficult to identify all correspondence. As a result, we want to work with you to make our request as efficient as possible for all parties.

It is likely that there have been conference calls, video chats, shared documents in online folders or other storage in use to discuss these issues. Our request will be tailored first to obtain records of those meetings and discussions and any notes or documents generated from them. We request the following documents:

1) Any records of conference calls, calendar invites, video calls, or other internal messaging platforms being used to set meetings to discuss budget concerns in the athletic department.
2) Any written or electronic notes taken during those conversations.
3) Any shared documents generated to report on budget issues, solicit ideas for cost savings, or discuss eliminating sports. This would include any documents generated on Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or similar shared platforms.

Please include the following individuals and keywords in your search:

Individuals
Director of Athletics David Benedict
University President Thomas Katsouleas
Deputy Associate Rachel Rubin/Senior Associate AD Neal Eskin
All head coaches of varsity sports
Any university or athletic department finance committees if such a body exists

Keywords for all names on our list
“athletic(s) budget,”
“eliminating” or “cutting” or “discontinuing” or “suspending” sports teams
“defunding athletics”
“scholarship reductions”

Keywords just for employees who work for the athletic department
“travel budget"
“furloughs"
"salary cuts"
"alternatives to cutting sports"
"Finances"
“Conference affiliation”

Timeframe:
From January 1, 2020 through date of receipt

Notes: