Susan Effling

After this past weekend’s events concerning the SDSU Cheerleaders, I am no longer proud of being an SDSU Alumna.

I graduated in 2000 and have always been very proud of my education and SDSU in general. During my 4 years at SDSU, I was a part of the State Sensations, but could only take the ridicule for one semester. Whether it was the Sensations or the Cheerleaders, they were made fun of during every game.

I have to admit, after quitting the dance team, I was one of those who poked fun at them while sitting in the stands. They had no talent and just jumped around in their cute little skirts. My high school cheerleading squad was better than they were.

This past friday a lot of people were “wowed” by the performance put on by the cheerleading squad. The athleticism was incredible; finally a talented and respected cheerleading squad at SDSU. True talent that a now division one school needed.

Well, to my understanding the stereotype of cheerleaders has crippled the athletic department. I guess there is a “two person high” stipulation? Well maybe the athletic department should be more informed of their own rules and regulations, the cheerleaders has been doing more than “2 person high” stunts all year.

Obviously safety is a concern of every sport and everyone can agree with that. No one is telling the football team they are playing too rough, and the safety measures include having an ambulance on the sidelines ready to go? But yet we are going to hinder the talent of the cheerleaders because we deem it not safe, even though they are performing at the level SDSU believes they are at: division one.

If we had an ambulance ready and waiting for the cheerleaders then could they perform at the level they have worked so hard to achieve?

If it wasn’t safe, no one would do it, plus the cheerleaders are trained to spot and ensure the safety on the people in the stunts.

I don’t think anyone has died being a cheerleader … but that is not the case with football — or even pole vaulting — yet those sports go on. But I guess there are people that don’t even think cheerleading is a sport.

Susan EfflingEagan, Minn.