I just heard that two more universities, Rutgers and James Madison, are ditching men's swimming while spending zillions on football and golf. My own alma mater almost cut women's swimming several years ago. They were saved by alumni fundraising, but not until the swim team put itself up for sale on ebay. Endurance sports get no respect. It makes no sense. I thought open water swimming and triathlons and road racing were on the rise even among young kids. If so, why cut all those sports in college? I guess it's still just a miniscule percentage that participate compared to other sports, like my least favorite youth sport -- travel soccer.
Leslie,
It is true that Rutgers is going to drop Men's Swimming after this year (along with 4 other mens sports and one womens sport). My daughter just started there as a freshman and she didn't consider any schools that didn't have a men's team for a number of reasons including the desire to train with them. She is quite upset. There is additional information at www.saverutgersswimming.org/
For all those living in NJ, please let your opinion be known. The Board of Governors will meet tomorrow but it is not clear who, if anyone, will be able to speak. The NJ Assembly Committee on Higher Education will meet next week to discuss the issue. So go to their website: www.njleg.state.nj.us/.../Assembly.asp and let the members of the committee know what you think. Also let your own representative know. Remember that a number of members of the Board of Governors are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature to represent YOU!
I have to be careful here since I am an officer of USMS and I believe that I can't turn this forum into a political vehicle to advocate for something that may turn political. You can guess where I stand, especially after I heard that the AD said that wrestling would be spared because wrestling is a much bigger sport in NJ!
Leo
Leslie,
It is true that Rutgers is going to drop Men's Swimming after this year (along with 4 other mens sports and one womens sport). My daughter just started there as a freshman and she didn't consider any schools that didn't have a men's team for a number of reasons including the desire to train with them. She is quite upset. There is additional information at www.saverutgersswimming.org/
For all those living in NJ, please let your opinion be known. The Board of Governors will meet tomorrow but it is not clear who, if anyone, will be able to speak. The NJ Assembly Committee on Higher Education will meet next week to discuss the issue. So go to their website: www.njleg.state.nj.us/.../Assembly.asp and let the members of the committee know what you think. Also let your own representative know. Remember that a number of members of the Board of Governors are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature to represent YOU!
I have to be careful here since I am an officer of USMS and I believe that I can't turn this forum into a political vehicle to advocate for something that may turn political. You can guess where I stand, especially after I heard that the AD said that wrestling would be spared because wrestling is a much bigger sport in NJ!
Leo
