2008 Woodie Awards
Cheerleading squad forms at UST
Paul Barnes
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Sports & Clubs
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Garcia came to the University with two years of high school cheerleading experience and was captain of the team her senior year. Not long after the start of the semester, Garcia said she found herself bored with UST's lack of extracurricular activities. At the club fair, Garcia said she realized that, with a little effort and determination she could bring cheerleading to UST.
Initially, Garcia attempted to form a cheerleading club. She said she met with the necessary parties, filled out the paperwork and wrote a constitution. In the constitution she wrote that the club would be for women only. However, the Council of Clubs does not allow any club to discriminate by gender.
"They told me if I made a sports club, I could be more specific," Garcia said.
So she said she started all over again, founding the cheerleading team as a sports club. As a sports club, the cheerleading team can be all female and more competition-minded, Garcia said. She added that, as a sports club, the team is entitled to funding.
Garcia said that she got the word out about the new team and the response was positive. "The girls are really excited," she said.
Students have responded favorably to the idea.
"I'm glad that Megan had the initiative to start a program to spread school spirit," said freshman Jose Carranco.
Some students said that they felt that having a cheerleading squad would make UST feel more like a traditional college.
"I think its great that we're slowly getting all the things you'd find at a major, highly-populated university," said freshman Matthew Douglass.
The team currently has eight women, including four freshmen, three sophomores and one senior.
"On the team there is a wide range of experience," Garcia said.
Some members have cheered competitively, and others have not cheered since high school. The club's adviser is Career Testing and Services Center employee Lisa Foxworth.
Currently, the team has regular practices on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, near Jerabeck Athletic and Activity Complex.
Garcia said that the team is working on getting non-formal uniforms to practice in and that members expect to have formal uniforms by next March or April. The club plans on cheering regularly at UST games next year.