Some breasts don't fit anything....
Posted on 02/01/2006 3:43:36 AM PST by don-o
JOHNSON CITY - A former East Tennessee State University cheerleader contends that she was dismissed from the squad because of her job at a restaurant known for tight-fitting, scanty uniforms.
"I'm 18. I should be able to work where I choose," ETSU freshman Kimberly Sams said of her job at Johnson City's Hooters Restaurant. "Maybe if it was a strip club or something like that, it would be different. If the basketball team can come in here and eat, then I should be able to work (at Hooters)."
Sams, a Carter County resident who graduated with honors from Unaka High School last May, joined the ETSU squad at the start of the fall semester and started working at Hooters in November.
She cheered until about three weeks ago, when squad coach Tammy Bartow called her into the locker room after a basketball game and dismissed her.
Sams said Bartow, wife of head men's basketball coach Murry Bartow, made it clear that her off-campus job was the reason - a "Hooters Girl" was not in keeping with the ETSU squad's image.
"She (Bartow) didn't call me before the game," Sams said. "I had no warning that I was going to be kicked off."
Citing federal laws regarding students' privacy, ETSU Athletic Director Dave Mullins declined to comment on the specifics of Sams' dismissal, including whether she was dismissed because of her job, other than to say she violated athletic department policies and agreements between coach and student.
Mullins said department administrators reviewed Bartow's action, departmental policy and squad agreements before upholding the decision.
ETSU asks all student-athletes, including cheerleaders, to sign copies of the department's policy on ethical conduct and sportsmanship. Students must sign a compliance statement regarding such issues as drug use, class attendance and public criticism.
The statement specifies that students will "represent self, family and East Tennessee State University in attitude and conduct that is a credit to each."
Mullins said members of each team also are expected to adhere to policies set by the coach. Bartow's policy includes statements regarding expected behavior for cheerleaders.
"Behavior by a squad member that brings unwanted, unfair, negative attention to the squad can and will result in the member being removed from the squad," the policy reads. "The image and reputation of the squad members as a whole are the utmost importance."
Asked whether the policies addressed what kinds of jobs students could hold or places they could frequent, Mullins said they did not.
"I don't think any of our policies are going to specify certain individuals or companies or institutions," he said.
Sams said ETSU never informed her of any restrictions about places of employment, and she had no reservations about accepting a position waiting tables at Hooters when a classmate suggested that she apply.
"I used to come here all the time on Tuesday nights for karaoke and me and my friends would just come in and hang out," Sams said. "We have little boys have their birthday parties at Hooters. It's a very fun and relaxed environment.
"It's so much fun that it keeps my spirits up at school. I'm not stressed. I'm not working too hard. A Hooters Girl is like an all-American cheerleader."
Sams acknowledged that her Hooters uniform - orange shorts and a white T-shirt containing the restaurant's logo - is revealing.
"But so is my cheerleading skirt. I feel more embarrassed to wear my skirt sometimes at the games than I do walking around in my uniform," she said. "We wear pantyhose (at Hooters). We don't underneath my cheerleading skirt."
Mike McNeil, vice president of marketing for the Atlanta-based restaurant chain, said he had not heard about Sams' dismissal from the ETSU squad prior to a reporter's inquiry, but it sounded as if Sams was defending her position on her own.
"We support the employee and the statements she's making," McNeil said. "I think the best thing they (ETSU) can do is reinstate her to the cheerleading team ... otherwise, it's a black eye."
Sams said although she initially did well in her classes at ETSU, her grades went south over the course of the semester and she wound up failing some classes. Cheerleaders are required to maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average. Sams said freshmen, however, were not held to that standard, and her grades were not cited in her dismissal.
Sams said she had hoped to bring up her grades this semester, but her academic status was in limbo because of a dispute regarding the return of her uniforms and money owed her for warm-up gear.
OK - how about this... They do have the right to have rules... But they are subject to public pressure about those rules.
She's a freshman. She doesn't have enough history there to know if she's sliding or not. College jobs are college jobs... and waitressing isn't unusual as a college job. Really tuffy, the only thing possibly objectionable about Hooters is the name. If not for the name, you'd have a hard time seeing any difference between Hooters and any fern bar.
Must you be so insulting and mean? I'm no hard body, far from it, but I'm arguing on your side.
Yes. Suppose I got a huge campaign in the community to disband the existing homo club. Any bets on how fast the queer support juggernaut would be rolling into action?
My point is that there is a lot more community support for squelching the "in your face" behavior of the homos than there is for the closing of Hooters, or penalizing those who go there.
As things stand today, neither is something a public institution can meddle in. Not saying I like it; but there it is.
If she was making good enough grades to be admitted into college and onto the cheerleading squad and now she's failing classes, to me that's slipping. We are far enough into the school year to make that determination.
Maybe that's why she's yelling discrimination, it's the only way she can win her place on the cheerleading squad since she can't make on her grades.
I, frankly, don't care.
She needs to study more, obviously, I just think "if she was using her brain instead of her body, her grades wouldn't be slipping." was a little rough.
She's just a kid, I don't want to rake her over the coals for wearing a tank top at a part time job.
"Some do, just as women lust after a guy's 6-pack, pecs or biceps"
That's funny. Women go for a sense of humor, a gentleman, a kind manner, someone to talk to. Ask any woman what they look for in a man and I guarantee you a guys 6-pack won't even make the top 20.
You know, they really do need to create a Hooters-type restaurant with hot waitresses in the 35-45 range.
"She's just a kid, I don't want to rake her over the coals for wearing a tank top at a part time job."
But I waaaaannnnna rake her over the coals! :)
This has been a fun and very enlightening thread, to say the least.
Huh? Were does personality fit into any of this conversation?
Sure you do. Look at all the keystrokes. You do too care. I know it.
You were saying what women lust after after men with 6 pack abs, pecs and whatever else body part you mentioned. I was saying that abs are not what turns women on.
However, I am just against women dressing suggestively in public at any time. I include the cheerleading outfits that are worn today, among other clothing. Of course, my disdain for Hooters is well-known. I wish those girls had more respect for themselves. I agree with the University and hope they can retain higher standards for their students.
I try to remind young girls that Condi Rice, Margaret Thatcher, Karen Hughes, etc....ya know, women that are movers and shakers (no pun intended..:)) would NEVER had worked at a Hooters or a place like Hooters.
Thanks for the ping, Tuffy, hope all is well with you and yours.
If she'd been kicked out of Hooter's for breastfeeding... THAT would have been a fun thread. :~D
Ok, I admit it, that was funny.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.