Equal Cheers for Boys and Girls Draw Some Boos

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Equal Cheers for Boys and Girls Draw Some Boos
By WINNIE HU
Published: January 14, 2007

WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. — Thirty girls signed up for the cheerleading squad this winter at Whitney Point High School in upstate New York. But upon learning they would be waving their pompoms for the girls’ basketball team as well as the boys’, more than half of the aspiring cheerleaders dropped out.

The eight remaining cheerleaders now awkwardly adjust their routines for whichever team is playing here on the home court — “Hands Up You Guys” becomes “Hands Up You Girls”— to comply with a new ruling from federal education officials interpreting Title IX, the law intended to guarantee gender equality in student sports.

“It feels funny when we do it,” said Amanda Cummings, 15, the cheerleading co-captain, who forgot the name of a female basketball player mid-cheer last month.

Whitney Point is one of 14 high schools in the Binghamton area that began sending cheerleaders to girls’ games in late November, after the mother of a female basketball player in Johnson City, N.Y., filed a discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Education. She said the lack of official sideline support made the girls seem like second-string, and violated Title IX’s promise of equal playing fields for both sexes.

But the ruling has left many people here and across the New York region booing, as dozens of schools have chosen to stop sending cheerleaders to away games, as part of an effort to squeeze all the home girls’ games into the cheerleading schedule....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/nyregion/14title.html?ei=5094&en=090f473f31a8e170&hp=&ex=1168837200&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1168760511-hEfMDCLvtA4P0lbleEbZ6A

[Diane R]

1. This is crazy. Out here in Spokane, Wa, they've been cheering for girls for years.

If there are boys and girls games on the same night, the cheerleaders split up so they can cheer at both games. There is a huge amount of spirit for girl's sports. I don't understand the problem in the New York towns.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. why don't they incorporate boy cheerleaders

[napi21]

3. Ewe! You want more to end up like Shrub? nt

[fishwax]

9. most male cheerleaders don't wind up involving their country in b.s. wars

[neoblues]

4. The logical choice...

if there are enough boys interested in being cheerleaders (notwithstanding our "president").

[lligrd]

7. We Could Always Draft Them

But no, we definitely don't need more Shrubs in the world.

[frogcycle]

5. appalling

how can backwater burgs stay so medieval? look at women's NCAA basketball. Tell them to tune in a UConn game. who are those people on the sidelines? oh my god, they're - gasp - cheerleaders! male and female, just like at mens games.

UT-UConn2006

the female Tennessee cheerleaders didn't "feel wierd" cheering for Candace Parker when she slammed home her fifth dunk in competition against UConn last week.

http://utladyvols.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/010607aaa.html#

these 15-yr olds need to get real

the mother who raised the issue is spot-on. to hell with the barbie dolls feeling wierd; the athletes deserve support

[Meldread]

6. Arrogant little brats.

Do these brats realize that they are proving true every stereotype for cheerleaders? Ugh. They are a disgrace. I wouldn't want them cheering for me anyway - I'd kick them out of cheer for that attitude and look for new Cheerleaders who could be enthusiastic.

Disgraceful!

[fishwax]

8. "awkwardly adjust"?

What BS. I'm sure it's very awkward to say "hands up you girls" instead of "hand up you guys" :eyes:

I went to HS years ago--mroe years than I'm willing to readily admit--and we had cheerleaders at our women's game ... in trendsetting WYOMING, of all places. The pep band even played for the ladies sometimes (though not every game).

[xchrom]

10. you have GOT to be kidding me?

we're talkin ''school spirit'' here -- not -- oh what ever -- words fail me when i see just how stupid people can be.

[MadHound]

11. Geez, welcome to the twentieth century!

The highschool and college cheerleaders have been cheering for both the mens' and womens' teams for a couple of decades now. And if you're finding yourself short some cheerleaders, just bring some more onto the squad:shrug:

It amazes me what gets people upset.