College Athletic Staff Rating: Ronda Varnesdeel at Davenport University

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Inappropriate Behavior Is Normalized At Du

Date: February 26, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

"My daughter was on the women’s soccer team at DU and I was appalled that this school lets athletic trainers “work on” athletes behind closed doors in hotels. I don’t think that’s ethically right and I told my daughter to not do this or let this happen to her. After reading many of these comments, I’ve grown more concerned about what type of place my daughter is attending. Why are they allowing this behavior at DU? "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Smart People Know How To Play The Game

Date: February 26, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Does not give a s**t about female athletes mental health. Only if they want to date her son. Ask multiple sports she has said this on multiple occasions. It’s a sick pressure. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

It’s Ok To Drink And Do Drugs If You Win For Her. Sad Role Model

Date: February 25, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Rhonda will never be held accountable for anything at DU. She’s been getting away with the same stuff since she started. She just has more power to bully people now. She was always looked down upon as a coach because she is a scrub. Glad to see she brings her same trailer trash vibe to administration. Cheating was the only way she could win. There is no development of people. Her teams are known for smoking pot and drinking before games and you know all is well if you get a W. Terrible role model. My daughter played for Rhonda and I have a lot of stories I could tell. Rhonda isn’t a good person that is for sure. Shame on these people for turning a blind eye over the years. She had many complaints about her coaching and I can’t even imagine how many she gets now. She lets the baseball coach get away with everything that’s a known fact and he doesn’t even like her. If I had to do it over I would not let my daughter play for her and receive a below average degree. If you’re lazy this is the school for you! "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Strongly Advise To Actually Look Into Du Before Going

Date: February 24, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I strongly advise looking into going to Du before going. On the outside it looks amazing. Great facilities and a lot of money. It’s the horror show people in athletic administration and some of their nightmare long tenured coaches that will end up being the downfall of your kids lives. DU is like a cult for doing the wrong thing and promoting it. If you want to have someone who will struggle once they are done with school but partied and cheated their way through school while also having no morals, being lazy and a plague I suggest DU. If that’s the future you’re looking for DUI is the perfect place! "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

The Real Du Is Pretty Dark

Date: February 24, 2026

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Narcissistic bully that hates any woman that thinks she isn’t very special which is practically almost everyone in the athletic department. Why do you think they have hired so male forward. Ronda is hard to deal with and for whatever reason she lets men get away with whatever they want. That must raise her low self esteem and make her worth go up. What she did to the softball program is criminal with her coaching and then hiring her friend which they knew was happening a year prior and then taking money from the program then once he was hired flooding the program with money to make everything “ok” but it’s not surprising to see there’s not leaders being groomed at DU it’s corrupt followers. What she did with the women’s basketball program is criminal. Knowingly allowing the coach to keep sleeping with his player and allowing the girl to dictate practices and events and then giving her a scholarship to do nothing but quit the next year. It’s insane. She bullied the female assistant so bad and banished her from the school.Ronda has consistently made homophobic comments about the new women’s golf coach and has repeatedly bashed the old men’s golf coach bc she stood up for herself. Let’s face it. Ronda is a low life loser that has no business being in athletics. She would make a better prison guard or jail warden. There’s so many wrong things she has done in the past you could write a literal book. Ronda creates and promotes toxic people that are Menaces to society. Having affiliation with Davenport and watching her and letting her do what she does makes me physically ill. This is a terrible institution that thrives on hurting good people to promote evil. This school is literally known to make employees physically ill bc of people like Ronda. It’s sad and wrong. But hey the school seems to keep having a lot of money for all the twisted coaches and admin to keep stealing. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Corruption And Abuse Of Power The Du Way

Date: February 24, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"100 percent needs to be investigated. If the school hired outside sources to investigate the athletic department many and I mean many people would be terminated. Davenport athletic department is criminal. Sex scandals, misuse of funds, stealing money you name it. This entire athletic department is guilty. Ronda is a narcissist and a bully. Davenport is a little club of corrupt coaches that steal money from the school and drink and sleep with female athletes. The baseball coach should be investigated, the men’s basketball coach, and executive AD. There’s many scandals within the football program but sparky isn’t as morally corrupt as the baseball and basketball coach. Other than letting his star QB date the facilities worker which is pretty wrong if you ask me. I’ve heard the term clown school being thrown around. This is a corrupt school. Student athletes commits academic fraud every day at DU and coaches and administrators look the other way. Davenport has no right to be in the NCAA. They should have stayed NAIA as all they do is lie and cheat. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Toxic Place To Be Clown Show. Clown School

Date: February 23, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Obviously the entire DU athletic department is trash but why is the executive AD off the hook. Think he got hit in the head too many times playing Hockey. He isn’t all there mentally clearly. Ronda runs DU bc he is a moron. He is the head of the Clown show. Enter a home soon pal. Female haters. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Du Is A Clown School

Date: February 23, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda didn’t listen to anyone on my team about our horrific coach. Put him on a pedestal and let him get away with abuse. Davenport is a clown school. If you’re in with her and drink with her she will be your best bud. Otherwise watch your back. I wonder if we had a woman coach if she would have listened. I’m ashamed to have played at DU. Clown school for sure. She’s a big woman hater for real. "

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Bad Reputation In Grand Rapids And Davenport

Date: February 22, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"When you’ve been around this woman for 25 years and you know she’s the biggest loser in Grand Rapids. Lies, steals, cheats. Terrible role model for any female athlete, coach or staff member. She has a long long history of this so beware if you cross paths because she’s known to be one jealous, insecure person and when that happens she ls pretty dangerous. The executive AD lets all this happen because he has no clue what is even going on. She has pawns at that school and loves to hire her friends or anyone that says yes to her. I’m not sure how she sleeps at night knowing, allowing and doing all the wrong she does at that clown school. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Horrible Admin And People In General At Du

Date: February 21, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda has pushed her own personal agenda for years and the executive AD is just as bad. He sits back and plays dumb. They both let their friends who are coaches get away with bending rules and sleeping and drinking with athletes. They all use school money for personal use and do what they want. DU should not be an NCAA school. The illegal activity happening at this school is eye opening. Rules don’t apply to these people bc they are all above the law. On top of that they are conditioning athletes to be just as morally corrupt. God help anyone who has any association with Davenport University. You’re either a victim of abuse or you have been groomed to become the abuser. Clown school. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport University Is Run By Toxic People

Date: February 18, 2026

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Lies, cheats and intentionally attempts to ruin peoples lives and livelihoods. I’ve truly never have been around a more backwards, twisted, toxic person that gets off on hurting other people when she so easily could extend a hand and help. Ronda is a terrible person that has a huge ego. She is self centered and destructive in every way possible. I do not recommend being around her she will either try and ruin you or her evilness will rub off on you."

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Don’t Du It. National News Story Needs To Be Done

Date: February 17, 2026

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Biggest bully I’ve ever been around but funny thing is when you give it back she doesn’t like it so much. If you stand up for yourself at DU she recruits other employees to help bully you out. HR is well aware of this as she has done this on multiple occasions to multiple people allow her to continue to do this people. I hope employees, former employees, athletes and former athletes keep writing in their experiences. The leadership at DU is awful and only protect certain people. If you fall in that category you can drink and sleep with athletes. It’s absolutely terrifying what some of these people do with student athletes. Davenport University should be a national news story. The cover ups and NDAs are handed out like candy at this school. They force people to keep their mouth shut by threatening them and or giving raises or job titles. The entire athletic department should be ashamed of themselves. Knowing wrong is occurring and keeping your mouth shut makes you just as guilty. I’m ashamed I’ve ever had my name associated with this institution. If someone actually came in a did a true investigation on this athletic department I think the university would be shut down and closed. "

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Worst Coach I Have Ever Had

Date: February 17, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda was the worst coach I’ve ever had in my entire life and she is a huge liar "

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Unbelievable Such Horrific People Can Be On Ranking Committees

Date: February 16, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I have family members that play softball and baseball in the GLIAC. I’ve heard from multiple coaches that they found it to be odd that Ronda is on the RAC. Which is responsible for regional voting in softball. Knowing her track record I anticipate major cheating already taken place at Davenport. I believe the baseball coach is also on the same committee for baseball and they have seemed to get rankings recently. Davenport is a very shady school and I know there is discussions between multiple coaches about how their programs blatantly cheat. It’s sad these corrupt people can even be on a committee in general. Whatever they are doing- they are 100 percent doing it for self interest so I would keep a major eye on this evolving cheating scandal. Davenport University is notorious for cheating and most of their NAIA wins come from being CHEATERS. Sad the NCAA is still allowing this school to cheat to get ahead. Once a cheater, always a cheater! "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Not Happy About Sending My Son To Du

Date: February 16, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Credit card Fraud U. Athletes notoriously run credit card schemes and sell fake IDs. Isn’t that illegal? DU administration and coaches let it happen and do not care. I’m happy my son has since transferred but I was appalled when hearing how common things like this are at DU. I’m not sure why administrators haven’t buckled down. Davenport rules only apply to certain athletes, staff and coaches. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport Really Picks And Chooses What They Let Go. Admin Are Terrible

Date: February 15, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"It is WILD to me that everyone in the athletic department and athletes all know the full time facilities worker girl was in a relationship with the QB on the football team and no one thought hmm maybe that’s not right. Real head scratcher. Ronda covered it up, admin, coaches, trainers knew and obviously all of us athletes. How does someone keep their job after this? It’s straight wild. Wild, wild, wild what DU prioritizes and what they blatantly ignore. It ain’t fair at all. Clown schools for sure. Don’t worry baseball didn’t lose their photographer though. This school is messed up. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Double Standards And Expectations For Female And Male Players. Coaches And Players Know

Date: February 15, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"A complete liar with double standards. When I played basketball we seemed to have to have way more discussions and repercussions with Ronda while our male players would go in and laugh with the executive AD about the same things. It’s a complete double standard with Ronda and him when it comes to female and male athletes. We all had to endure our coach sleeping with our teammate and hear Ronda tell our assistant well what if it was your brother. I’m thoroughly convinced if our coach was a female she would have fired her immediately. I never understood the double standard at DU but with the bball programs it’s prevalent for sure. "

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Ronda Is Beyond Corrupt Title 9 Next To Her Name Is Laughable But Also Sickening

Date: February 14, 2026

By Other

1.0

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1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I was bullied by Ronda for telling her of a title 9 incident she didn’t want to hear. What kind of school puts a title 9 coordinator in charge of such serious matters when she simply does nothing or gets mad when her friends or herself are implicated. A very messed up system at Davenport and HR is in on it. NDA’s are all real. Someone should investigate this toxic behavior. I’m so glad to actually be serving at another local institution that isn’t corrupt like DU. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

A Very Unethical Work Place At Davenport University

Date: February 11, 2026

By Other

1.0

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Caring

Motivational

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1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda forced us to donate money to buy the administrative assistant new tires. I felt pressured and knew I would be retaliated against if I didn’t give money. I personally found the administrative assistant to be unprofessional and rude and in my 7 years of working at DU I found she catered to the men in the department and also that she was Ronda’s puppet. This same woman who is a part of doing the dirty work for both Paul and Ronda is now an assistant athletic director. How DU promotes their friends is sickening and very unprofessional. My time working in the department was eye opening and I would say very uncomfortable and not normal. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Ronda And Davenport University Defends Abusers

Date: February 11, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

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Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"If you have a daughter that plays sports you should know the athletic administration at Davenport will 100 percent not have your child's best interest. DU protects ABUSERS and they cover up disgusting behavior. Ronda specifically gender discriminates against her own gender. Male staff members should not be engaged in physical, emotional or any type of relationships with female student athletes. It’s WRONG. Ronda knowingly allows this behavior and covers it up. Again, be mindful where you are letting your child attend school. The party culture at this school is different. The athletic department is corrupt. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Someone Really Should Interview Du Staff A Horror Movie

Date: February 9, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Does anyone think the executive AD has any idea what’s going on? Yes, 2 of the worst administrative staff in the history of administrators. The cover ups and NDA’s are real. Great job DU! Keep protecting these predators. Typical of this institution. "

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Out Of Touch With Reality

Date: February 9, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Asking for buy in when siding with a coach who slept with his player and then that same player having the power to dictate our practices is low key hilarious "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Not A Great Experience

Date: February 8, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Wouldn’t recommend.the entire athletic administration"

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Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

I Did The Wrong Thing. Keeping Your Mouth Shut Protects The Abusers And Toxic School

Date: February 8, 2026

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I played bball at DU for 4 years. It’s true. The coach was sleeping with his player. Everyone knew and did nothing. We were silenced as athletes. They threatened to take away our scholarships and playing time was used against us. I’m ashamed that I actually kept my mouth shut out of fear from Ronda and admin. Double standards for everyone at DUI. I’m glad I’m no longer associated with such a gross place. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport University Is A Sick Place

Date: February 8, 2026

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

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Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"School protects pedos that prey on female student athletes. Nice job Ronda! “What if it was your brother” you said to the assistant that thought it was WRONG. You’re sick. You have no business being around young adults. Davenport University is SHAMEFUL!"

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