Empire 8

Intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Empire 8 (E8) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. The E8 sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's football, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball. The E8 shares offices with the United Volleyball Conference, a separate Division III league that competes solely in men's volleyball.

FormerlyIndependent College Athletic Conference (1964–1991)
Empire Athletic Association (1991–1999)
AssociationNCAA
Founded1964
CommissionerChuck Mitrano (since 2001)
Quick facts Formerly, Association ...
Empire 8
FormerlyIndependent College Athletic Conference (1964–1991)
Empire Athletic Association (1991–1999)
AssociationNCAA
Founded1964
CommissionerChuck Mitrano (since 2001)
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 11
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams12
HeadquartersRochester, New York
RegionNew York
Official websitewww.empire8.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}
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History

Empire 8 Conference
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
50km
31miles
St. John Fisher
Alfred State
Hilbert
Oswego
Morrisville
Cortland
SUNY Poly
Geneseo
Brockport
Russell Sage
Elmira
Alfred
Houghton
Hartwick
Utica
Keuka
Nazareth
Locations of Empire 8 members
full member
affiliate member

The Empire 8 can trace its beginnings back to 1964 with the founding of the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). At this time, the conference was made up of Alfred University, Clarkson University, Hobart College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, and Union College.[1] After Union left the league, Ithaca College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the ICAC.

In 1991, the ICAC regrouped to become the Empire Athletic Association (EAA), with Clarkson leaving and Hartwick College joining to replace the spot. Hobart/William Smith, RPI, and St. Lawrence left in 1993, to be replaced by Elmira College, Nazareth College, and Utica University. Alfred re-joined and St. John Fisher College joined the league in 1998.

The EAA became the Empire 8 Athletic Conference in 1999, hosting 13 sports.

Stevens Institute of Technology joined as a field hockey member beginning in 2006 and became a full member in 2007. RIT announced on June 5, 2009 that it planned to leave the Empire 8 for the Liberty League beginning in the fall of the 2011–12 season. Houghton College also announced that they would join the Empire 8 in the 2012–13 season as they transitioned from a school of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division III status; they became full D-III members in 2016.

The most recent changes to the conference's membership were published in the 2018–19 school year. First, Stevens announced in August 2018 that it would leave the E8 at the end of the 2018–19 school year to rejoin the Middle Atlantic Conferences after an absence of more than 40 years. Stevens joined the MAC's Freedom Conference.[2] In January 2019, the E8 reported that Stevens would eventually be replaced by Keuka College in 2020–21,[3] and in March, The Sage Colleges merged Russell Sage College and Sage College of Albany, effectively making the former women-only Russell Sage co-educational in fall 2020.[4]

On July 15, 2020, the Empire 8 postponed all fall sports, but provided conference championships in those sports in spring 2021.[5] On August 26, 2021, the E8 admitted Medaille for 2022–23, joining from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.[6]

In 2023, three State University of New York schools will all join the Empire 8, beginning in the 2024–25 academic year: Starting with the State University of New York at Brockport (SUNY Brockport) and the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) on August 21;[7] followed by the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) on November 20.[8]

Chronological timeline

  • 1964 – The Empire 8 was founded of the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). Charter members included Alfred University, Clarkson College of Technology (now Clarkson University), Hobart College (later William Smith College followed suit when women's sports was added into the conference), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University and Union College, beginning the 1964–65 academic year.
  • 1971:
  • 1991:
    • Alfred and Clarkson left the ICAC after the 1990–91 academic year.
    • The ICAC was regrouped to become the Empire Athletic Association (EAA), beginning the 1991–92 academic year.
    • Hartwick College joined the EAA in the 1991–92 academic year.
  • 1993:
    • Hobart & William Smith, Rensselaer Poly (RPI) and St. Lawrence left the EAA after the 1992–93 academic year.
    • Elmira College, Nazareth College (now Nazareth University) and Utica College (now Utica University) joined the EAA in the 1993–94 academic year.
  • 1998 – St. John Fisher College joined the EAA (with Alfred rejoining alongside) in the 1998–99 academic year.
  • 1999 – The EAA was rebranded as the Empire 8 Athletic Conference (a.k.a. Empire 8 or E8), hosting 13 sponsored sports, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
  • 2004 – Norwich University and Springfield College of Massachusetts joined the Empire 8 as affiliate members for football in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year).
  • 2006 – Stevens Institute of Technology (a.k.a. Stevens Tech or Stevens) and Washington & Jefferson College joined the Empire 8 as affiliate members for field hockey in the 2006 fall season (2006–07 academic year):
  • 2007 – Stevens upgraded as a full member of the Empire 8 for all sports in the 2007–08 academic year.
  • 2009:
  • 2010 – Springfield left the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2011:
  • 2012:
  • 2014 – The State University of New York at Brockport (SUNY Brockport) joined the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for football in the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year).
  • 2015:
  • 2017:
  • 2018 – SUNY Canton left the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for men's golf after the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
  • 2019:
    • Buffalo State left the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for football to join the NJAC after the 2018 fall season (2018–19 academic year).
    • Stevens left the Empire 8 to rejoin the Middle Atlantic Conferences (particularly the MAC's Freedom Conference) after the 2018–19 academic year.
  • 2020:
    • Keuka College joined the Empire 8 in the 2020–21 academic year
    • The Sage Colleges merged Russell Sage and Sage College of Albany, making the former women-only Russell Sage co-educational (thus remaining in the Empire 8), in the 2020–21 academic year.
  • 2022 – Medaille College joined the Empire 8 in the 2022–23 academic year.
  • 2023:
    • Medaille left the Empire 8 after the 2022–23 academic year; as the university announced that it would ceased operations one year after joining the conference.
    • Washington & Jefferson left the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for field hockey to join the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) for that sport after the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
  • 2024:
  • 2025:
    • Alfred State College joined the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for football in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).
    • The Empire 8 announced that it entered into a scheduling agreement for non-conference football games with the Liberty League for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. As part of this agreement, Hilbert left the Empire 8 to join the Liberty League as an affiliate member for football after the 2024 season (2024–25 school year), giving both leagues 8 football-playing members.
  • 2026 – The State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) will join the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for men's tennis, beginning the 2027 spring season (2026–27 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The Empire 8 currently has twelve full members, all but three are private schools:

More information Institution, Location ...
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined[a] Football?
Alfred University Alfred, New York 1836 Nonsectarian 2,189 Saxons     1964
1998[b]		 Yes
Elmira College Elmira, New York 1855 Nonsectarian 768 Soaring Eagles     1993 No
Hartwick College Oneonta, New York 1797 Nonsectarian 1,208 Hawks     1991 Yes
Houghton University Houghton, New York 1883 Wesleyan 927 Highlanders     2012 No
Keuka College Keuka Park, New York 1890 Baptist 1,535 Wolves     2020 No
Nazareth University Pittsford, New York 1924 Nonsectarian 2,791 Golden Flyers     1993 No
Russell Sage College Albany and Troy, New York 1916 Nonsectarian 2,389 Gators     2017 No
St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York 1948 Catholic
(Basilians)		 3,610 Cardinals     1998 Yes
State University of New York at Brockport Brockport, New York 1867 Public[c] 7,924 Golden Eagles     2024[d] Yes
State University of New York at Geneseo Geneseo, New York 1871 Public[c] 4,910 Knights     2024 No
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute Marcy, New York 1966 Public[c] 2,850 Wildcats       2024 No
Utica University Utica, New York 1946 Nonsectarian 4,614 Pioneers     1993 Yes
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Notes
  1. [a]
    Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. [b]
    Alfred left the Empire 8 (then known as the ICAC) after the 1990–91 school year; before rejoining in the 1998–99 school year.
  3. [c]
    Part of the State University of New York System.
  4. [d]
    SUNY Brockport joined the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for football since the 2014 fall season (2014–15 school year).

Affiliate members

The Empire 8 currently has eleven affiliate members; all but three are public schools:

More information Institution, Location ...
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Empire 8
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
Alfred State College Alfred, New York 1908 Public 3,500 Pioneers 2025 Football Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)
Lesley University Cambridge, Massachusetts 1909 Nonsectarian 6,593 Lynx 2024 Men's tennis[b] North Atlantic (NAC)
Norwich University Northfield, Vermont 1819 Private
(SMC)		 2,300 Cadets 2024 Men's tennis[b] Great Northeast (GNAC)
State University of New York at Canton Canton, New York 1906 Public[c] 3,122 Roos 2024 Men's golf S.U. New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York 1868 Public[c] 6,832 Red Dragons 2015 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Delhi Delhi, New York 1913 Public[c] 3,088 Broncos 2024 Men's tennis[b] North Atlantic (NAC)
(S.U. New York (SUNYAC) in 2026)
State University of New York at Morrisville Morrisville, New York 1908 Public[c] 2,486 Mustangs 2015 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York 1861 Public[c] 7,636 Lakers 2017m.gf. Men's golf S.U. New York (SUNYAC)
2024m.ten. Men's tennis[b]
Thomas College Waterville, Maine 1894 Nonsectarian 1,949 Terriers 2024 Men's tennis[b] North Atlantic (NAC)
Vermont State University–Johnson[d] Johnson, Vermont 1881 Public[e] 1,803 Badgers 2024 Men's tennis[b] North Atlantic (NAC)
Vermont State University–Lyndon[d] Lyndon, Vermont 1911 Public[e] 1,519 Hornets 2024 Men's tennis[b] North Atlantic (NAC)
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Notes:

  1. [a]
    Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. [b]
    The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) entered into a partnership with the Empire 8 by which the two leagues would operate as a single conference in men's tennis, with championships immediately conducted for that sport; thus the Empire 8 sponsoring that tournament championship, beginning the 2024–25 school year.
  3. [c]
    Part of the State University of New York System.
  4. [d]
    The former Johnson State and Lyndon State Colleges were merged into Northern Vermont University effective July 1, 2018. Both former institutions remain separate campuses, with their own athletic programs. The schools were subsequently merged with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.
  5. [e]
    Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.

Future affiliate members

The Empire 8 will have one new affiliate member; which is a public school:

More information Institution, Location ...
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining[a] Empire 8
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
State University of New York at Oneonta
(SUNY Oneonta)[9]		 Oneonta, New York 1889 Public[b] 6,543 Red Dragons 2026 Men's tennis S.U. New York (SUNYAC)
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Notes
  1. [a]
    Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. [b]
    Part of the State University of New York System.

Former members

The Empire 8 had ten former full members, all were private schools:

More information Institution, Location ...
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] Current
conference
Clarkson University Potsdam, New York 1896 Nonsectarian 3,539 Golden Knights 1964 1991 Liberty (LL)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, New York 1822 &[c]
1908[c]		 2,118 Statesmen[d] &
Herons[d]		 1964 1993 Liberty (LL)
Ithaca College Ithaca, New York 1892 4,600 Bombers 1971 2017 Liberty (LL)
Medaille College Buffalo, New York 1937 3,925 Mavericks 2022 2023 Closed in 2023
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI)		 Troy, New York 1824 7,521 Engineers 1964 1993 Liberty (LL)
Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT)		 Henrietta, New York 1829 17,652 Tigers 1971 2011 Liberty (LL)
The Sage Colleges
Sage College of Albany (co-ed)		 Albany, New York 1949 1,600 Gators 2017 2020 N/A[e]
St. Lawrence University Canton, New York 1856 2,431 Saints 1964 1993 Liberty (LL)
Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 1870 5,260 Ducks 2007[f] 2019 MAC Freedom
Union College Schenectady, New York 1795 2,194 Dutchmen &
Dutchwomen		 1964 1971 Liberty (LL)
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Notes
  1. [a]
    Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. [b]
    Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. [c]
    The foundation date for Hobart College is 1822, and the foundation date for William Smith College is 1908.
  4. [d]
    The men's sports teams' nickname is for Hobart College, while the women's sports teams' nickname is for William Smith College.
  5. [e]
    The Sage College of Albany was merged into Russell Sage College.
  6. [f]
    Stevens competed in the Empire 8 as an associate member for field hockey during the 2006 fall season (2006–07 school year).

Former affiliate members

The Empire 8 had ten former affiliate members, all but four were public schools:

More information Institution, Location ...
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] Empire 8
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
Buffalo State College[c] Buffalo, New York 1871 Public[d] 8,339 Bengals 2012 2019 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC)[e]
Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland 1898 Public[f] 6,133 Bobcats 2011 2015 Football Mountain East (MEC)[g]
Hilbert College Hamburg, New York 1957 Catholic
(Franciscan)		 800 Hawks 2024 2025 Football Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)[h]
Moravian University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1742 Moravian 2,595 Greyhounds 2009 2017 Men's golf Landmark
Norwich University Northfield, Vermont 1819 Private
(SMC)		 2,300 Cadets 2004 2009 Football Great Northeast (GNAC)[i]
Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland 1925 Public[f] 8,606 Sea Gulls 2011 2015 Football Coast to Coast (C2C)[j]
University of Scranton Scranton, Pennsylvania 1888 Catholic
(Jesuit)		 5,253 Royals 2009 2017 Men's golf Landmark
Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 1858 Lutheran ELCA 2,315 River Hawks 2009 2017 Men's golf Landmark
Springfield College[10] Springfield, Massachusetts 1885 Private 5,062 Pride 2004 2010 Football New England (NEWMAC)
Washington & Jefferson College Washington, Pennsylvania 1781 Nonsectarian 1,168 Presidents 2006 2023[11] Field hockey Presidents' (PAC)[k]
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Notes
  1. [a]
    Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. [b]
    Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. [c]
    Currently known as Buffalo State University since 2023.
  4. [d]
    Part of the State University of New York System.
  5. [e]
    After competing in the Empire 8 as an affiliate member, Buffalo State's football team joined the Liberty League as of the 2019 fall season (2019–20 school year).
  6. [f]
    Part of the University System of Maryland.
  7. [g]
    Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  8. [h]
    After competing in the Empire 8 as an affiliate member, Hilbert's football team joined the Liberty League as of the 2025 fall season (2025–26 school year).
  9. [i]
    After competing in the Empire 8 as an affiliate member, Norwich's football team joined the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) from the 2009 to 2016 fall seasons (2009–10 to 2016–17 school years); before competing in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) as of the 2017 fall season (2017–18 school year).
  10. [j]
    After competing in the Empire 8 as an affiliate member, Salisbury's football team joined the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) as of the 2015 fall season (2015–16 school year).
  11. [k]
    After competing in the Empire 8 as an affiliate member, Washington & Jefferson's field hockey team joined the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) as of the 2023 fall season (2023–24 school year).

Membership timeline

State University of New York at OneontaAlfred State CollegeHilbert CollegeState University of New York Polytechnic InstituteState University of New York at GeneseoMedaille CollegeKeuka CollegeState University of New York at OswegoState University of New York at CantonSage College of AlbanyRussell Sage CollegeState University of New York at MorrisvilleState University of New York at CortlandState University of New York at BrockportBuffalo State UniversityHoughton CollegeSalisbury UniversityFrostburg State UniversitySusquehanna UniversityUniversity of ScrantonMoravian UniversityWashington 26% Jefferson CollegeStevens Institute of TechnologySpringfield College (Massachusetts)Norwich UniversitySt. John Fisher CollegeUtica CollegeNazareth College (New York)Elmira CollegeHartwick CollegeRochester Institute of TechnologyIthaca CollegeUnion CollegeSt. Lawrence UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteHobart and William Smith CollegesClarkson UniversityAlfred University

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football)   Associate member (sport) 

Championships

Main article: List of Empire 8 Athletic Conference champions
See also: Empire 8 men's basketball tournament

Sports

The Empire 8 sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:

More information Sport, Men's ...
Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballGreen tickY
BasketballGreen tickYGreen tickY
Cross CountryGreen tickYGreen tickY
Field hockeyGreen tickY
FootballGreen tickY
GolfGreen tickYGreen tickY
Ice hockey Green tickY
LacrosseGreen tickYGreen tickY
SoccerGreen tickYGreen tickY
SoftballGreen tickY
Swimming & DivingGreen tickYGreen tickY
TennisGreen tickYGreen tickY
Track and field (indoor)Green tickYGreen tickY
Track and field (outdoor)Green tickYGreen tickY
VolleyballGreen tickYGreen tickY
Wrestling Green tickY
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Men's sponsored sports by school

More information School, Baseball ...
SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryFootballGolf Ice HockeyLacrosseSoccerSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)		Track & Field
(Outdoor)		Volleyball WrestlingTotal Empire 8 Sports
Alfred Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 10
BrockportYesYesYesYesNo YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNo Yes11
ElmiraYesYesNoNoNo YesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes Yes7
GeneseoNoYesYesNoNo YesYesYesYesNoYesYesNo No8
HartwickNoYesYesYesNo NoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes No9
HoughtonYesYesYesNoNo NoNoYesNoYesYesYesNo[a] No7
KeukaYesYesYesNoYes NoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo No6
NazarethNoYesYesNoYes YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes No11
Russell SageYesYesYesNoYes NoYesYesNoNoYesYesYes No9
St. John FisherYesYesYesYesYes YesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes Yes13
SUNY PolyYesYesYesNoYes NoYesYesNoNoNoNoYes No7
UticaYesYesYesYesYes YesYesYesNoNoYesYesNo Yes11
Totals912115+3[b]6+2[c] 6111254+7[d]996 4121
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  1. [a]
    Houghton added men's volleyball in 2023–24, but is not participating in the Empire 8. It is playing as an independent before moving that sport to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in 2024–25.
  2. [b]
    Affiliate members Alfred State, Cortland and SUNY Morrisville.
  3. [c]
    Affiliate member Canton and Oswego.
  4. [d]
    Affiliate members Delhi, Lesley, Norwich, Oswego, Thomas, VTSU Johnson and VTSU Lyndon.

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Empire 8

More information School, Alpine skiing ...
School Alpine skiingEquestrian Rugby
AlfredIndependentIndependent Independent
NazarethNoIndependent Independent
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Women's sponsored sports by school

More information School, Basketball ...
SchoolBasketballCross CountryField Hockey GolfLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)		Track & Field
(Outdoor)		VolleyballTotal Empire 8 Sports
AlfredYesYesYes NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
BrockportYesYesYes NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
ElmiraYesNoYes NoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes6
GeneseoYesYesYes YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
HartwickYesYesYes NoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
HoughtonYesYesYes NoNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
KeukaYesYesYes YesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes8
NazarethYesYesYes YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
Russell SageYesYesYes YesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes11
St. John FisherYesYesYes YesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes11
SUNY PolyYesYesNo YesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes7
UticaYesYesYes YesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes11
Totals121111 7111212599912120
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    Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Empire 8

    More information School, Alpine skiing ...
    SchoolAlpine skiingEquestrian Flag FootballGymnasticsIce HockeyRowingRugbyWrestling
    AlfredIndependentIndependent NoNoNoNoIndependentNo
    Brockport No No Independent NCGA No No No No
    ElmiraNoNo IndependentNoUCHCNoNoAMCC
    GeneseoNoIndependent IndependentNoNoNoNoNo
    HartwickNoNo IndependentNoNoNoNoNo
    NazarethNoIndependent NoNoUCHCIndependentNoNo
    Russell SageNoNo IndependentNoNoNoNoNo
    St. John FisherNoNo NoNoUCHCLiberty LeagueNoNo
    UticaNoNo NoNCGAUCHCNoNoIndependent
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    References

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