Debbie Yow does it again. Cheerleaders at Maryland

[TheBand]

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.

[gister]

The band is next!!!!

[thetorch]

The cheerleasders should be counted. They have to jump around as much as anybody else, plus the terp cheerleaders should get something for having to sit through those horrible football games the terps play.

Do they also give schollies to the male cheerleaders as well? Or would that mess up their attempts to cheat title IX?

[kshoe]

I am far from a conservative when it comes to my political views and I'm all for women athletes but title IX is inherently unfair to schools that play football.

A football program will have 70 male scholarship players and along with the 13 male basketball scholarship players they fund the entire athletic department. Yet, somehow schools are expected to find 70 scholarships for women in sports that men do not also play. It is impossible to do so and the natural result is schools drop mens sports teams like wrestling, hockey, soccer, etc. that do not bring in money. The intention of the law is fine but in my opinion title IX should apply to all sports except football.

As for Maryland, clearly the four girls that are going to get scholarships from this are better off. I'd be willing to be Debbie's choice was to kill a non money making male sport or add a totally irrelevant female sport like the rifle team (does SLU still have a team). I see no problem with Maryland's decision.

[courtside]

Memphis Memphis Memphis....no one else should be allowed to have one...at least in C-USA.

nothing better than their full army fatigue striptease.

And they get full rides.