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The claim by the college's board of trustees was included in a newsletter sent to Wells alumni and obtained by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. The board acknowledges the Cleveland Commission for Wells and the Wells Legacy Society, both of which launched after the college's sudden closure announcement in April. 

The groups, the board says, are not "authorized or endorsed by Wells College."

"Devoted to Wells as they are, they do not accept that the board, most of whom are alumnae themselves, spent years trying to find a path forward for Wells," the statement continues. "These groups have diverted funds from Wells and have created delays in many wind-down efforts that could have been completed, and communicated, by now." 

The board encourages alumni to donate to the college to help with expenses, such as maintenance and utilities, and preservation of artwork and books. The donations would also support the college's "own legal action to preserve that legacy," according to the board. 

Caolan MacMahon, a Wells alumna and co-chair of the Cleveland Commission for Wells, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the group has raised $71,000 since its creation. The commission is pursuing legal action against the college to get answers about the closure. 

"They're blaming us for diverting money and none of this had to happen," MacMahon said. 

The Cleveland Commission met with the college's leadership on Aug. 1 in Syracuse. The meeting did not yield any new information about the closure, according to MacMahon. 

Nearly two weeks after the meeting, the Cleveland Commission received a cease-and-desist letter from Wells College. The college claims the commission is infringing on its trademark rights by using Wells in its name. 

A month before the cease-and-desist letter was sent, and two weeks after Wells closed, the college filed for several trademarks. The trademarks are pending. 

"It implies that we pretended to be part of Wells, which is just not true," MacMahon said. "If you're doing to donate money, go and do some research. We have been very clear from the beginning that we want to find answers as to why and how this happened, and that we want to explore pathways for the future of the college." 

Wells Legacy Society has raised $43,000 since its formation, according to Rachel Snyder, an alumna and president of the organization. The group aims to preserve Wells College's legacy in Aurora and the Finger Lakes region. 

Snyder told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that the board's statement is "a glaring misrepresentation of the facts" and attempts to discredit the Cleveland Commission and Wells Legacy Society. 

"Both groups are made up of passionate alums and friends who are tirelessly working to ensure that Wells College's history and values aren't discarded in the face of poor leadership and misguided decisions," she said. 

Despite the college's claims, the Cleveland Commission and Wells Legacy Society are committed to their missions. The Cleveland Commission continues to seek answers about the abrupt closure, while the Wells Legacy Society wants to ensure the college's history is properly preserved. 

If funds are being diverted from Wells, MacMahon believes that's due to the college's decision to fight its alumni instead of addressing their concerns. 

"If they just answered the questions, then they wouldn't have to do that. That just isn't necessary," she said. "The cease-and-desist costs money and it wasn't necessary. It didn't result in anything. It was just a waste."