bubba9497 Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 Cheerleading now a varsity sport at U of Maryland Saturday, September 27, 2003 Posted: 4:45 PM EDT (2045 GMT) http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/09/27/maryland.cheerleading.ap/index.html COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (AP) -- Cheerleading is now a varsity sport at the University of Maryland, a move critics say is designed to sidestep federal sex discrimination law. The university and the federal Office of Civil Rights say it is the first instance of a school seeking to use cheerleading scholarships to comply with Title IX, the 1972 law prohibiting sex discrimination by any school that receives federal money. "Our expectation is that we're the first, but the first of many," Michael Lipitz, Maryland's associate athletics director for administration, told The Washington Post. Four cheerleaders now receive partial scholarships, and a total of 12 cheerleading scholarships are to be phased in within three years. Cheerleaders on scholarship will attend cheering competitions, but will not perform at games. Critics say the move is intended to skirt the law so Maryland can increase funding for men's programs. Title IX calls on schools to make their percentage of female athletes proportionate to female enrollment, or to demonstrate that they are meeting demand for women's sports programs. "It seems like they're looking for the easiest way out, that their intent is to conform to the letter of the law, but not necessarily the spirit," said Donna Lopiano, chief executive of the Women's Sports Foundation. Cheerleading is not recognized as a sport by the NCAA, and the Department of Education says cheerleaders who perform at other teams' events cannot be considered members of athletic programs for the purpose of complying with Title IX. Lopiano questioned the university's choice of cheerleading when Maryland club teams have sought varsity status, but Lipitz said cheerleading and water polo, which was granted eight scholarships, were the only teams that sought the status this year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 It's about time. If the gymnastics team qualifies I don't see why they shouldn't count. -DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 Cheerleading is not recognized as a sport by the NCAA, and the Department of Education says cheerleaders who perform at other teams' events cannot be considered members of athletic programs for the purpose of complying with Title IX. The above quote proves what complete and utter bull the NCAA is, and how feminazis continue to try and destroy college wrestling at all costs. How can cheerleading NOT be considered for compliance with title IX? The amount of hours that teams put in, the competitions they attend .... I mean seriously wtf? 300 or 400 wrestling programs cut since 1979 (introduction of proportionality test) and people still havent learned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 Well with women soccer being kicked to the curb and hopefully someone doing a Dr kervorkian to the WNBA cheerleader is an option and you can see it on ESPN2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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