OMG, that is so not the right question
A federal court in Connecticut will take up the momentous question of whether cheerleading is a sport. Why? Because "Title IX" requires "equal opportunity" for males and females in school athletics. Quinnipiac University has cut its women's volleyball and instead wants to use competitive cheerleading to count towards its female-sports quota.
So the future of the cheerleading squad depends on whether it meets a federal definition of the word "sport." To which, one can only say, that is so not the right question. A better question might be: what activity attracts more student demand: volleyball or competitive cheerleading? (A question for the school's trustees, of course, not a federal court).
Title IX is, and always has been, a parody of egalitarianism. In a perfect Ayn-Rand-predicted-this trend, colleges and high schools have been cutting men's sports rather than adding women's sports in order to achieve "equality of opportunity." So if cheerleading is not a "sport," then Quinnipiac will probably have to cut yet more men's sports (they've already cut men's indoor and outdoor track to meet the Title IX numbers).
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May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
OK, so there's interest in women's soccer due to their really nice legs, and women's basketball due to their, ponytails, I guess. But whence does this interest in men's cheerleading spring? From Ted McGinley fans?
I'm gonna go ahead and predict that nobody ever hires an assassin to knock off their son's cheerleading rival.
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
....and another thing.... men's cheerleading is not a separate sport from women's cheerleading. The only reason guy cheerleaders exist is to throw girl cheerleaders into the air. The only reason any man of sense would become a cheerleader is to grasp the behinds of girl cheerleaders. Who wants to watch guy cheerleaders on their own?
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Just to cap you point about supply and demand Adam, and government second-guessing markets: there are thousands of dollars of unused college scholarships every year at American colleges:
http://golf.about.com/u/sty/golftips/junior-golf-tips/College-Golf-Scholarships-for-Girls.htm
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Trace - yes, exactly my point.
But hey, calling Rob Long! This one has sitcom written all over it. Imagine a couple of cash-strapped undergraduates pretending to be girls to qualify for the golf scholarships.
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
You are so right. This is just one small example of the permanent and unchecked regulatory apparatus that has grown up in Washington over the past 40 years -- originating in large part with the Nixon administration. The EPA is another obvious example, but there are scores if not hundreds of these things. The law or agency gets set up and then has a life of its own in perpetuity, with effectively no popular oversight or control. For all the harmful and/or silly things Congresses do, at least they have to hold public votes on their actions, and constituents can hold members accountable every 2 or 6 years. The Regulatory Apparatus is like some science fiction monster that breaks free of the lab and knows no control or restraint. I thought Reagan scored effectively in 1980 by turning people's attention to the harm done by untethered regulation, and it has surprised me to no end that Republicans have not done more, during their turns in power, to check this -- or to raise it more in campaigns. "Our of control regulation" is a natural winner with at least 60-70% of the voting public.
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
I heard of a college in Southern California that considers cheerleading a major.
And you can get scholarships for cheerleading, too.
Adam, I like where you're going with the sitcom idea, but I'd rather see a show about dour, glum-faced emo comp lit students forced to sign up for cheerleading to pay their tuition. And some women's studies majors, too.
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Male cheerleaders -- hark back to the days when words meant what they said -- are to be heard, not seen.
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Male cheerleading, the Ur-example. Future President of the United States and left-wing-deranger George W. Bush:
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Dubya, as a man of sense, was clearly in it for the boo-tay. And he definitely had better hair than Trent Lott. Where the heck is Andrea on this vital topic?
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Kennedy Smith: Where the heck is Andrea on this vital topic? · Jun 21 at 4:23pm
I'm sorry, I have no insight, Kennedy. I didn't have the height for cheerleading. Or, I had too much of it I should say. Why does it surprise me that a university in southern California would have a degree in it? In St. Louis I find it odd that everyone asks you where you went to high school. In San Diego I thought it was odd that I was repeatedly asked if I surfed. Why the heck would anyone spend their money on a college education in cheerleading? Good luck with that on your resume.
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Andrea: I feel shame delivering you this news about my fellow men, but it's nonetheless true: Given that A) a resume typically does not include a picture, and B) most men--being men--are at least a little curious about the physical appearance of a prospective female interviewee, "skilled college cheerleader" can indeed be a resume enhancer--a "separater" to get her foot in the door. Sorry. Really sorry.
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Scott Reusser
Andrea: I feel shame delivering you this news about my fellow men, but it's nonetheless true: Given that A) a resume typically does not include a picture, and B) most men--being men--are at least a little curious about the physical appearance of a prospective female interviewee, "skilled college cheerleader" can indeed be a resume enhancer--a "separater" to get her foot in the door. Sorry. Really sorry. · Jun 22 at 5:24am
I'd love to hear the reactions of a really skilled college cheerleader. Obviously there's cheerleading that's tantamount to super difficult and high-intensity competitive team gymnastics. In an interview environment, I would want to be sure that someone listing their cheerleading credentials was really skilled. In the Title IX era, it could be resume padding. Welcome to the real world.
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
a really skilled college cheerleader.
Well, now we're just in Penthouse Forum territory. "Dear Penthouse Forums, I'm a student in a small Midwestern college. I never used to believe your stories were true, but..."
Actually, I did know a girl who was applying for the "Women of Arthur Andersen" issue. She was told by her colleagues that it might adversely affect her hiring prospects. I was like "um, no, it won't; guys are pretty open-minded there". Never got to find out the truth, as they went with "Women of Enron" instead.
I still don't buy the story of the Citigroup woman. I mean, heck, if Scott Brown can get elected senator, who's going to fire a banker for being attractive?
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Scott Reusser Andrea: I feel shame delivering you this news about my fellow men, but it's nonetheless true: Given that A) a resume typically does not include a picture, and B) most men--being men--are at least a little curious about the physical appearance of a prospective female interviewee, "skilled college cheerleader" can indeed be a resume enhancer--a "separater" to get her foot in the door. Sorry. Really sorry. · Jun 22 at 5:24am
I feel like I just lost a round in "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?" Slapping my forehead...darn! I knew this! You can't spend five years with a bunch of Marines and not learn more than you ever wanted to know about men. Whenever I say this I inadvertently throw out a challenge, but you can't gross me out and it's hard to shock me. I haven't discovered any qualities in the other gender, yet, that can accomplish either one. But, I still like you guys...even if your basic foundation is simple. Or, maybe it's because of that. :-)
If I ever need to lie on a resume I'll remember your tip.
May '10
Re: OMG, that is so not the right question
Epilogue:
Quinnipiac Will Add Women's Rugby
Quinnipiac University announced Wednesday that it will add women's rugby -- while keeping other women's teams, including competitive cheer -- to comply with a federal judge's ruling last month that found the institution out of compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Associated Press reported that during the trial in a suit challenging the university's compliance, Quinnipiac officials suggested that they might drop the cheer squad if it could not count toward Title IX requirements. A judge said that the sport could not count (at least at this time), but the university is sticking with that activity while complying by adding women's rugby.