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Critics Boo as Schools Nix Athletic Cheerleading

UConn accused of sexism for cutting gymnastic routines

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 5, 2009 7:19 PM CDT

(Newser) – Ditch all those nasty gymnastics routines, girls, and look cute again! That's what some observers heard when the University of Connecticut ended gymnastic and tumbling skills in its cheerleaders' routines last week, Sarah Ball writes in Newsweek. "Even if school officials weren't solely motivated by wanting to see less gymnastics and more dancing in skimpy uniforms," bristled one critic, "the decision was still sexist."

UConn officials say they wanted to include more students in cheerleading, and noted that other schools have made similar moves. But cheerleaders, who are ogled as sex objects online and denied the official status of college athletes, were already peeved about their lack of respect. Their leaps and twirls are dangerous enough: One university study found they accounted for two-thirds of serious injuries to female athletes.

Cheerleaders from the Wisconsin Badgers perform against the Davidson Wildcats at Ford Field on March 28, 2008 in Detroit, Mich.
Cheerleaders from the Wisconsin Badgers perform against the Davidson Wildcats at Ford Field on March 28, 2008 in Detroit, Mich.   (Getty Images)
A cheerleader for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers performs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 3, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. Tennessee won 59-46.
A cheerleader for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers performs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 3, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. Tennessee won 59-46.   (Getty Images)
Cheerleaders from the Indiana Hoosiers entertain the crowd on March 18, 2006 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake CIty, Utah.
Cheerleaders from the Indiana Hoosiers entertain the crowd on March 18, 2006 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake CIty, Utah.   (Getty Images)
Cheerleaders from the Boston College Eagles perform a stunt on March 18, 2006 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Cheerleaders from the Boston College Eagles perform a stunt on March 18, 2006 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.   (Getty Images)
Caitlin Fehlinger soars through the air as she performs with Michigan State University cheerleaders on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in East Lansing, Mich.
Caitlin Fehlinger soars through the air as she performs with Michigan State University cheerleaders on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in East Lansing, Mich.   (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Bobby Petrino, second from right, cheers with his wife Becky, right, and Arkansas cheerleaders on Dec. 11, 2007, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Bobby Petrino, second from right, cheers with his wife Becky, right, and Arkansas cheerleaders on Dec. 11, 2007, in Fayetteville, Ark.   (AP Photo/Beth Hall)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
TimInKansasCIty
Sep 6, 2009 12:42 PM CDT
critics...why must they boo?
Scrambles
Sep 6, 2009 12:38 PM CDT
umm...
riffran
Sep 6, 2009 8:03 AM CDT
Not so keen on the generic "high school" cheer stuff. But the female and male athletes that do that stuff on a competition basis work their respective butts off doing it, and feel very proud of what they can do. My daughter has a shirt that states (lol). "IF WAS EASY. THEY WOULD CALL IT FOOTBALL". One of the jocks didn't appreciate the message and challenged her to a sit up contest. He went first. Then she doubled his results ...... Hanging upside down on the gym bars. Unfortunately for the jock, one of the workouts the girls do for tumbling involves twenty minutes of hanging wall crunches follwed by multiple sit ups......three to five times a week. He never saw it coming

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