I hear ya!
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.
My goodness you are in love with Hooters. I can tell by all the pictures you posted that the only reason you go there is because of their charitable nature.
What did you expect?:^) Hooters is a target for some.
IMO, the young woman has a legitimate gripe. There may be more to the basketball coach, cheerleader coach and cheerleader/Hooters girl triangle than we know.
I wouldn't be surpised if there isn't a little jealosy/envy at play.
If it's a double standard they might want to review policies but cheer leading is a privelege not a right. I kind of look at it as a club. If there were rules and she agreed to them she should have tried to get changes but not have broken them.
Hey tuffy... guys like cute chicks... it was a nice gesture to send the calendars.
I really don't get the resentment that a bar with cute waitresses in tank tops is something that deserves your utter contempt even when they do something good... You aren't this much of a prude... what's up with you and Hooters?
Never heard of it. Is there really such a joint? If so, what do they serve---salad? Sounds like a hippy joint.
A suit...hands down winner. There's nothing I love more than to see a man in a well put together suit.
I just don't understand it. My wife and I have talked about it on a few occasions over the years. It baffles me. If a woman is 'heterosexual', wouldn't she be attracted to the male body? This is a great mystery to me.
I think women's feelings on the subject are kinda sad, really. Most men would *love* to be a 'sex object' to women. We'd *love* to be ogled by women. Clearly women love the attention, etc, when they want it. But only when they want it, like a celeberity who gets angry at Paparrazzi.
Women are so use to the attention, and they take it for granted. They can't imagine what it's like for men.
Well between those choices I have to go with suit. What I really think is attractive though are jeans and a jacket.
My wife hates it when I make this suggestion, but that sure sounds like it's the clothes more than the man that you find attractive!
Ditto. Excellent way of summarizing what Hooters is all about.
Sorry, but *you* need to cut the caffiene intake.
Suits over a speedo any day.
If women saw men as pieces of meat the way men view women, there would be an outcry, from men, of biblical proportion.
Once, 17 years ago, a car full of women drove by me and one of occupants yelled a comment that objectified me. (I ran after the car yelling "Yes!"). That memory is my "happy place," where I go if I am feeling down in the dumps. Always works.
It's what the expensive suit implies about the man's character, taste, and high social status that women find attractive.
There is a little truth in that, i think, but it's not the main point, according to my wife.
I think women just like clothes. Nice, fancy clothes. On other women, on men, on kids, whatever.
The main, sad point tho, is most women are *not* really attracted to the male himself, to the male body.
And i find this very, very odd indeed.
I hear ya!
:-D
I know the feeling.
But I do think you're wrong -- for some odd reason that even women themselves don't understand, women pretty much aren't attracted to men themselves. Women are attracted to how the man relates to her, to how he dresses, etc. But not to the actual physical body of the man.
Which makes *no* sense to me, if they're heterosexual. But apparently that's the way it is.
Altho, as I understand it, that is changing some. Younger women seem to be somewhat more interested in the male physique. But previous generations of women just on the whole are not.
It's not that simple. It's the image, the romance of what the clothes say about him we're attracted to, perhaps... In clothes, he's an image that evokes some emotional response. In clothes, men are cowboys, or construction workers, or James Bond, or soldiers, or our guy in jeans, or dressed to go someplace nice, if suits are unusual for him.... walking around nekkid, guys are simian and uncivilized, and for all we know, might be about to scratch themselves ;~D
You should have learned by now that women are much more complicated than a simple visual reaction. Women don't want to see male nakedness unless she's about to have sex with him... and even then, it's better if he doesn't just walk in like that. :~D
Whoa...you really HAVE seen the future! ;o)
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.