Save Hartwick Water Polo
Donation protected
Save Hartwick Women’s Water Polo
History: Hartwick College Board of Trustees voted to eliminate Division I sports from the campus beginning in 2018-2019. This decision affected the Men’s Soccer team and Women’s Water Polo team. The college offered the Men’s Soccer team to continue at a Division III level and have an intercollegiate presence on campus but completely eliminated the Women’s water polo program even after multiple presentations from the Women’s water polo team outlining other options including: keeping DI and reducing program costs, reclassification of the team to DIII equivalent to the Men’s Soccer team or a transition period with fundraising efforts to allow all current and recently signed athletes to compete until graduation. The Women’s Water polo team has had an outpouring of support by Hartwick students and faculty. Hartwick Women’s water polo has 452 wins and 200 losses since 2007, the best record of any sports team at the College and is currently ranked 12th in the nation.
Title IX compliance issue: Even prior to the elimination of the Women’s water polo team, Hartwick has not been in compliance with Component 1 of Title IX. Hartwick does not meet any of the 3 prongs of the law. Hartwick does not have participation in sports proportionate to its enrollment (Athletic Disclosure Act report shows a 178 participant gap); it does not have a history of expanding programs for women and it is not fully and effectively accommodating the athletic interests of the underrepresented gender (women). To add to the Title IX issues, the College announced its decision during the Women’s water polo season, further affecting their ability to focus energy on saving their team while they were traveling and in season.
Goals of Funding:
Provide financial support for the team to receive legal counsel to fight this decision and reinstate the Division I Women’s water polo team by the process of an immediate injunction and ongoing legal investigation and process.
Any excess funding after legal action is resolved will be donated to support water polo organizations that are related to and/or endorsed by the USA water polo association or will be used to fund scholarship opportunities for Women’s water polo at the Collegiate level.
We thank you for your support of our young women!!
History: Hartwick College Board of Trustees voted to eliminate Division I sports from the campus beginning in 2018-2019. This decision affected the Men’s Soccer team and Women’s Water Polo team. The college offered the Men’s Soccer team to continue at a Division III level and have an intercollegiate presence on campus but completely eliminated the Women’s water polo program even after multiple presentations from the Women’s water polo team outlining other options including: keeping DI and reducing program costs, reclassification of the team to DIII equivalent to the Men’s Soccer team or a transition period with fundraising efforts to allow all current and recently signed athletes to compete until graduation. The Women’s Water polo team has had an outpouring of support by Hartwick students and faculty. Hartwick Women’s water polo has 452 wins and 200 losses since 2007, the best record of any sports team at the College and is currently ranked 12th in the nation.
Title IX compliance issue: Even prior to the elimination of the Women’s water polo team, Hartwick has not been in compliance with Component 1 of Title IX. Hartwick does not meet any of the 3 prongs of the law. Hartwick does not have participation in sports proportionate to its enrollment (Athletic Disclosure Act report shows a 178 participant gap); it does not have a history of expanding programs for women and it is not fully and effectively accommodating the athletic interests of the underrepresented gender (women). To add to the Title IX issues, the College announced its decision during the Women’s water polo season, further affecting their ability to focus energy on saving their team while they were traveling and in season.
Goals of Funding:
Provide financial support for the team to receive legal counsel to fight this decision and reinstate the Division I Women’s water polo team by the process of an immediate injunction and ongoing legal investigation and process.
Any excess funding after legal action is resolved will be donated to support water polo organizations that are related to and/or endorsed by the USA water polo association or will be used to fund scholarship opportunities for Women’s water polo at the Collegiate level.
We thank you for your support of our young women!!
Organizer
George Voynick
Organizer
Branford, CT
