
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992                   TAG: 9203290029
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NO RECOGNITION FOR CHEERLEADERS

Sex discrimination is in school sports. On March 22, there was a meeting at Patrick Henry to congratulate the basketball team for winning the state championship. The members of the team were congratulated, the coaches were congratulated. Mayor Taylor was recognized as part of the "team." Dr. Tota was recognized as part of the "team." Dr. Lee was recognized as a "team" member.

The one group that was not recognized at all was the cheerleaders. These girls had to raise money for their trip, and the parents had to pay for their meals. The boys stayed in the Sheraton and had everything paid for by the school.

The cheerleaders have had to raise money (and pay the difference themselves) for cheerleading camp, their uniforms, briefs, socks, turtlenecks, shoes and all out-of-town trips. This is all paid for the basketball players and football players by the school. The boys are taken home on a bus after practice and games. The girls must be picked up by a parent.

Are the schools really trying to tell these girls that their efforts are useless? These girls should have been recognized for their support at that meeting. The boys received free championship T-shirts. The cheerleaders have to buy theirs. These girls are going to think that to be female means to be less.

DEBORAH YATES ROANOKE

by CNB