NY Governor Says SUNY Geneseo Team Cannot Use GoFundMe Donations to Stay in NC

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the SUNY Geneseo swimming and diving team may not use donated funds to stay in hotels in Greensboro, NC for next week’s NCAA Division III Championships.

Last week alumni created a GoFundMe to support the Blue Wave’s travel, after the team was told it would need to stay in Virginia, over an hour from the Greensboro Aquatic Center, to comply with New York’s Executive Order 155. Executive Order 155 prohibits New York state funded travel to North Carolina in reaction to the state’s HB2 Bill (“Bathroom Bill”), passed in March 2016.

The GoFundMe effort raised nearly $7,000 in under a week, but now the alumni who created the fundraiser are offering refunds.

According to local news outlet WHEC, an Advisor to Cuomo said,

“The team is traveling to North Carolina and competing in the event, but not staying there.  The limited exception is that the team gets to travel there, but not stay in North Carolina and stay in a bordering state instead. The issue is not just tax dollars, but the travel itself. Under the executive order, if you are traveling under the banner of state travel in your state capacity you would ordinarily be banned from traveling there even if there is outside funding, but we are allowing the travel there in this instance to honor their commitment to the NCAA to participate in championships.”

Being allowed to even attend the meet is already being viewed as an exception, so the team is unable to stay in North Carolina with outside funds, nor fly into the state, even though that travel is paid for by the NCAA.

SUNY Geneseo qualified 10 athletes to NCAAs while the College at Brockport has two qualifiers and SUNY Cortland has one qualifier, also facing the same travel challenges.

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Stephanie Harvin
5 years ago

Wow. Hate that for the athletes

ugggg
5 years ago

Thanks Cuomo you low-altitude Flyer! And to think all this fuss was started by people being confused with little boys and girls not knowing what bathroom they should use….

Michele Roux Morgan
5 years ago

I bet if it was a basketball or a football team things would be different!!!!

Sarah Banta Dzikowicz
5 years ago

Michele Roux Morgan , According to an article SUNY Albany ? team had to cancel their game against Duke in 2016 because of this Executive Order

Bob McD
Bob McD
5 years ago

They did and Marist [private school in Poughkeepsie NY took their place]. Ridiculous Order.

Michele Roux Morgan
5 years ago

Sarah Banta Dzikowicz anything since 2016?

Geneseo grad
Geneseo grad
5 years ago

Hahaha!!!! I guess you didn’t go there. Geneseo has no football team. If it were hockey, now that would be different.

Brent Evans
5 years ago

Northern supremacy much?
Partisanship over harmony?

Michele Roux Morgan
5 years ago

Sad

Coach Abby
Coach Abby
5 years ago

Try again – “hate that” for the LGBTQ+ person living in North Carolina under these draconian laws. NC shouldn’t be eligible to host anything. I know we won’t attend meets in the state until the law is overturned.

Jennifer
Jennifer
5 years ago
Reply to  Coach Abby

You’re a moron!! This is about athletics not Politics!! Put your selfish personal feelings aside and let these kids fulfill THEIR dreams!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
5 years ago
Reply to  Coach Abby

Most of the law was repealed ?

John
John
5 years ago
Reply to  Coach Abby

So dictator Cuomo has set his border guarders up who will check everybody’s papers. Russia, China, North Korea, the United States never thought it would happen here. So dictator Cuomo is more concerned about a bunch of queers that have no idea who they are, but they want to go onto the bathroom with your wife, daughter, grandaughter. This is what he supports over these kids. He needs to be removed from office. How is N.Y. going to survive 4 more years of this evil dictatorship?

John
John
5 years ago
Reply to  Coach Abby

So dictator Cuomo has set his border guarders up who will check everybody’s papers. Russia, China, North Korea, the United States never thought it would happen here. So dictator Cuomo is more concerned about a bunch of queers that have no idea who they are, but they want to go onto the bathroom with your wife, daughter, granddaughter. This is what he supports over these kids. He needs to be removed from office. How is N.Y. going to survive 4 more years of this evil dictatorship?

Cheryl Kupan
5 years ago

NY Gov is an ass. Give them the money Gov or let them use GoFundMe. Geez…Good luck SUNY!

Therese McAdams
5 years ago

What a jerk he is! These kids work their tails off on the pool! Give them a break

Aimee Trout-Foster
5 years ago

Idiotic

Rob Duguay
5 years ago

While I disagree with the NC Legislature’s “unfortunate” law and the NCAA awarding a Championship to Greensboro. Cuomo is acting like Carter with the Moscow Games. The athletes had no say over where the Championships were being held. They should be able to stay close to have the best chance at racing at their best.

Also Greensboro is a pretty liberal city as far as North Carolina goes.

Diana Rugg
5 years ago
Reply to  Rob Duguay

Rob Duguay So is Charlotte. They lost out on more than Greensboro. Thankfully, it’s been repealed after considerable negotiations by all parties

Rob Duguay
5 years ago
Reply to  Rob Duguay

Diana Rugg if the law has been repealed then that makes NY’s executive order even more asinine.

Tona Hamashige
5 years ago

Lolo Brown! WHAAATTT???

Nicole Semrow
5 years ago

Bruce Labarge

Richard P. Morrall
5 years ago

This man is insane. What kind of dictatorship is the governor of New York?

Natalie Gundrum
5 years ago

Richard P. Morrall Evil one !

Pamela Goldsbro
5 years ago

Richard P. Morrall

Vicki Ringhoff
5 years ago

Another reason to not send my daughter to a state school!

Michelle Schwarcz-Haubrich

And the 1000th way student athletes are exploited by their schools. Treating these athletes as if they are “employees” of the state. They damn well better be getting full tuition paid and benefits by their employer.

Photo Guy
5 years ago

It’s division III. These athletes receive no athletic scholarships.

Anonymous
Anonymous
5 years ago

Let’s ask a gay or lesbian SUNY GENESEO swimmer how they feel about swimming in a bigot state

Jennifer
Jennifer
5 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

I’ll bet they don’t care, it’s idiots like you who do!!

Donato Diorio
5 years ago

This is stupid. In championship meets, Student athletes need their sleep. An hour travel each way puts them at a disadvantage.

Tracey Quinn
5 years ago

That’s nonsense.

Rory Neal
5 years ago

I understand the political statement , but as a fellow SUNYACC Swimmer I got to say the state is doing a great Injustice to a bunch of athletes who worked incredibly hard to have this opportunity. If anything the organizations should be going out of there way to help them succeed not making it more difficult.

Therese McAdams
5 years ago
Reply to  Rory Neal

Rory Neal as the parent of a former SUNYACC swimmer/diver I totally agree with you! This only punishes the athletes

David Erickson
5 years ago
Reply to  Rory Neal

Not to mention that swimmers are some of the best students in any school.

Randy Moldenhauer
5 years ago
Reply to  Rory Neal

Rory Neal stop voting for Liberal Democrats

Lisa Ward
5 years ago

What a disgrace for NY. I hate that for the athletes.

Steven R Fisher
5 years ago

Stupid!

Ian Carter Jr.
5 years ago

The governor is a dickhead anyways. Fuck him.

Frank
Frank
5 years ago

The students should just go. This is just plain spiteful by the biggest bully (and bigot) in NY – just because he wants perverts in the girls rooms. It’s a disgrace that NYers voted for this sorry excuse for a male.

Tanya Essary
5 years ago

WHO CARES WHO PAYS – LET THOSE KIDS SWIM! Please can someone help them? They’ve worked so hard & why can Cuomo say no b/c they are staying in North Carolina? If the NCAA is not batting an eye Cuomo needs to shut up and let those girls swim! #swimmom #madashell #ellentv #ellen

Jeanne Abrams Polries
5 years ago

Ridiculous

Scott Buettner
5 years ago

Don’t blame Cuomo; blame our asshole, bigoted, backward-minded elected officials in NC.

Stuart Hanzman
Stuart Hanzman
5 years ago

Gov: You were successful in sending NC an important and timely message but let go already. You are unfairly punishing the SUC Geneseo athletes for something they did not do. Private funds is a good and fair compromise. Let them stay nearby the event.
Stuart Hanzman
1974
SUC Geneseo

Natalie Gundrum
5 years ago

Disgraceful!!! In all my years of competing and coaching I never heard of such a thing . Even as coach we fundraised for out of state competitions or championships. And from all sorts of sources. Really really sad world we live in. Smh!

Ess Arr
5 years ago

This is in relationship to NC’s transgender bathroom law, right? States have banned together to try to send a message to NC- and pressure them to change the law by hitting their wallets-
They shouldn’t be allowing the championships to be held in NC in the first place-many other sports like basketball- aren’t allowing NC to have championships held there- I get why the states are doing what they are doing, unfortunately, it is going to effect specific groups like these students. It’s unfortunate that they are allowing the championships to be held in NC in the first place ?

Diana Rugg
5 years ago
Reply to  Ess Arr

Ess Arr Ummm… NC repealed that law LAST YEAR. That’s why the All-Star game and ACC’s are being held in Charlotte this year. Either way, the athletes don’t deserve this treatment when decisions have already been made to forgive NC and hold events there.

Beth Odum McGee
5 years ago
Reply to  Ess Arr

Ess Arr If that is true, these athletes didn’t have anything to do with a “bathroom law”. They worked so hard to reach this achievement. It’s not fair to take it away from them for a “political message!” Uggh

Ess Arr
5 years ago
Reply to  Ess Arr

Diana Rugg I thought so too-I’m just trying to figure out the basis for what is going on and why-then I don’t get New York’s stance- I’m just trying to understand-

Ess Arr
5 years ago
Reply to  Ess Arr

Beth Odum McGee I get that- it’s unfortunate and doesn’t make sense if, in fact NC, has repealed their weird bathroom law-

Diana Rugg
5 years ago
Reply to  Ess Arr

Ess Arr Me neither. That’s what’s so mind boggling. Seems like political
pandering based on outdated information.

Ed McKinnon
5 years ago

To all you morons on your high horses, boycott an entire state so one can use the opposite bathroom? Maybe states should band together and protest something actually heinous and evil, like, say murdering babies moments before they’re born (and celebrating it).

Greg Pinchbeck
5 years ago

Another genius move by Cuomo. Amazon II. How can the State control private funds?.

Susan M
Susan M
5 years ago

Prince Andrew should hope that 40 plus states do not do a turnabout fair play move by banning travel to a state that celebrates the murder of unwanted newborns.

Christina Turmel
5 years ago

If it’s not his $$ then he should not be able have a say.

Matt Hanna
5 years ago

Politics at its worst.

Chris Fickling
5 years ago

Syracuse will be in Charlotte for the ACC tournament this week…………….

Rocky Bowers Parra
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris Fickling

While I totally disagree with the Governor, the reason Syracuse is not impacted is because it is a private school.

Diana Rugg
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris Fickling

Rocky Bowers Parra And the swimmers were not using public money. What’s the difference?

Sara Naeem
5 years ago

Sydney Ng ??

Sydney Ng
5 years ago
Reply to  Sara Naeem

Sara Naeem omg

Lelah Olender
5 years ago

No wonder so many New Yorkers are moving down here to NC.

Pamela Goldsbro
5 years ago

Good luck girls . I hope it all works out. Your Governor sounds like a dick.

Tusia Komarnycky
5 years ago

What is the issue ?

Sarah Banta Dzikowicz
5 years ago

Tusia Komarnycky , it’s is the article and Executive Order

Tusia Komarnycky
5 years ago

Sarah Banta Dzikowicz lol I didn’t want to have to read the whole thing

Jessie Simpauco
5 years ago

I honestly don’t get it. It was private money they should be able to do whatever they want with it.

Sue Marchetti
5 years ago

These kids need to focus on swimming , not $$ , travel ect… it should be the least of their worry. Good luck to the swimmers hope you set records this week!!??❣️❣️

Jeff C
Jeff C
5 years ago

Hmm wait till UB basketball team get selected to NCAA March Madness next week. They might end up in North Carolina area for the first couple of rounds! Wonder how that will work for UB team which is a SUNY college team in Division 1 basketball.

Monica Poitras
5 years ago

It’s privately donated money. He doesn’t have any control on how it gets spent.

Randy Moldenhauer
5 years ago

Thank the Liberals

Scott Krevat
5 years ago

non of his business

Bob Lange
5 years ago

If an athlete qualifies for the nationals, does the school not pay for travel, hotel and meals ?

Joan Sullivan
5 years ago

Maybe other states will decide to boycott NY because of the new abortion law allowing abortion up to and including the moment of birth.

Janice Stewart
Janice Stewart
5 years ago

Title IX! Bring it on!

Barbara Lynch Noach
5 years ago

So he is infringing on their rights to make a statement about someone else’s rights being infringed? His message will get lost in this one, I’m afraid…

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