A GoFundMe has been started in an attempted to save the men’s and women’s Robert Morris Hockey programs that were abruptly ended this week.
It was a cost saving move by the university explained this way “part of a series of strategic initiatives intended to position the university to be amongst the most agile and professionally focused schools in the nation as it prepares for its upcoming 100th anniversary.”
They added the decision is based on scholarship and operating costs necessary to maintain and improve the current facility. RMU believes this move ‘aligns our athletic offerings more closely with other similar nationally-ranked universities of our size’. It was not a move driven by COVID-19, rather part of a bigger decision.
The petition, started by RMU Junior defenseman Geoff Lawson, is attempting to save his and the women’s program by raising $3 million.
“Many of the players are going to struggle to find a place to play hockey with the discontinuation of the program,” Lawson says on the GoFundMe page.
He adds their final goal is around $10 million to guarantee the hockey programs at RMU continue for at least five more years. With a mix of alumni donations and GoFundMe donations the programs will hopefully be able to continue.
If the goal of $3 million is not met, all donations will be refunded.
As of Friday Morning, 47 people have donated over $3,000 to the campaign that started late Thursday evening.
RMU men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley has been with the program since the and told The Fan Morning Show if there is an opportunity to save the program, there are plenty of people that would be willing to donate.
“I could raise a lot of money today, I could have that done, I just need to know if they want to do that and two what the number is and let me get at it because it could be done very quickly,” said Schooley.
In a statement provided to 93.7 The Fan, the university says, "Suffice to say we would not have moved forward with this decision had we not first considered whether we could raise sufficient external funds to sustain the program in the long run."
In addition to the GoFuneMe, a Change.org petition has been set up. That has nearly 15,000 signatures.
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