Rutgers swimming & diving canceled their meet against Queens University this weekend because the team was “unable to complete their scheduled travel to Charlotte,” a press release from the school said. The two teams were scheduled to compete in a two day dual meet on Friday and Saturday.
While the release did not directly tie the travel issue to the federally-mandated reduction in flights on Friday by the FAA due to the impasse of the U.S. spending bill, approximately 10% of U.S. flights were mandated to be canceled because of staffing shortages and overworked air traffic controllers, who have not been paid during the shut down but who have continued to work.
A spokesperson from the school told SwimSwam that the team was delayed for “hours” yesterday at Newark airport, which was the reason for being unable to travel to Charlotte.
Those cancellations have been coupled with staffing shortages causing more delays for airports around the country. Newark Liberty International Airport, the closest major commercial airport to Rutgers, has been one of the hardest hit airports on Friday. As of 1 PM, NorthJersey.com reported that at least 74 flights from Newark were canceled in the last 24 hours, with at least 50 flights delayed (including departures and arrivals).
Cutting flights seems to have done little to move the needle on the ongoing government shut down, which is in its 38th day – the longest in US history. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that he could force airlines to cut up to 20% of flights if congress couldn’t come to a deal on funding the federal government.
Rutgers’ next meet will be on Saturday, November 15 when they battle Princeton for The Cannon Trophy. The two campuses are only 20 miles apart and so won’t be impacted by any ongoing disruptions to the U.S. flight system. Queens will next race at their hosted Fall Frenzy mid-season invite from November 20-23.
Charlotte is the 7th busiest airport in the U.S. and Newark is the 14th busiest airport by total commercial aircraft enplanements.
Swimming is not the only sport being affected by the airport issues. The NCAA reportedly sent out a memo to schools on Friday morning, stating that the ongoing shutdown could disrupt travel plans to fall championships. This could impact more than 1,000 trips to more than 350 championship sites for sports like Cross Country, Soccer, and women’s volleyball.
The NCAA front office said in the memo that they were “exploring” their options, and assured schools that they were “committed to working on these potential issues so the student-athletes, coaches and administrators can have great experiences competing for national championships this fall.”
Just get on a damn bus!!! It’s not rocket science!!
Get on a damn 9+ hr bus ride?
Just stop voting for morons. It’s not rocket science.
To be fair, being delayed hours in Newark airport is pretty common with our without a shutdown. I spent four years flying in and out of there during my time at Rutgers and I never had a full trip (out and back) not have a cancellation or delay. Bummed to see both schools miss a meet!
As a foreigner, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that America CHOOSES to make billionaires more rich at expense of the most unfortunate citizens.
It’s cruelty.
And it’s not very Christian.
Christ was just as pale an excuse for atrocities and ego jerking 400 years ago as it is now, that the people pushing a robotic surveillance state on us all are explicitly dressing it in the language of “accepting Christ” should be obvious enough but opium has been quite succesful historically in quelling the masses so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised we’re all playing along
I have freind that may benefit from your knowledge
He was raised in an extremely isolated environment and was never exposed to any organized religion.
Lately he feels as though he’s missing something in life, and is considering a spiritual connection. Obviously by choosing one religion he will essentially be saying “no” to others.
What are his options?
Also what are the consequences of saying “no” specifically to any of these religions.
Thank you in advance.
If you’re a bot, nevermind.
Racism is a helluva drug…
Aren’t you guys tired of winning yet?
The president said US is getting TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS from other countries. Surely more than enough to provide Universal Health Care, right? Just like all other developed countries and many many developing countries.
Unfortunate, but at least Americans aren’t getting those horrible food stamps anymore.
Sometimes I’m so sarcastic even I don’t know my point.
Are we great yet?
From day 1 says you know who.