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.
Hehe!
Yes, exactly, women are just more complicated than that. But I still don't understand!!! Cuz I'm a simple guy, of course.
If you're attracted to the opposite sex, you'd like their physique, wouldn't ya?
I think there's a lot of repression in there for women, personally. My wife totally disagrees, but I think they were taught over the years that "good girls don't do that", and that's their opinion.
It actually came as a shock to her when she learned that men really, really like women's bodies! But that's another long, long story . . .
Hey. I like naked. No speedos though:')
I know of 3 writers sites with a 99.9% female membership in the 1000's that have gobs of 'guy' pictures. The whole purpose is to flesh out characters, or have readers post what they think certain characters would look like.
Women DO like to look at men,
But not the parts men think they would like to look at....
and the biggest thing is they don't like doing it in public settings. Or having it 'pushed' on them....
And if their is a story charcter tied to it, all the better.
If it's something they can carry in their head, great. But we would be royaly miffed if some guy came to work in a speedo to show off his bod.
I think it's both. The clothes do make the man.
Clothes are status.
Nekkid in most countries/cultures means you're poor. It isn't sexy, it's starving.
Clothing....the fabrics, colors, styles etc can say so much about a person. So yeah, women love clothes. But it's cultural too.
Exactly.
Dang Dashing,
I go off and work for a couple of hours, and you get into trouble! The worst part is, I missed the whole controversial post.
Just dang.
That is why I get miffed when some guy yells "He's GAY!" when I post a picture that is on one of the writer sites....
that all the chicks over there are drooling over.
There is a big diff between 'what gays like' pics and 'what girls like' pics...and it just amazes me that the hetero guys haven't figured out which is which!
Oh, yes, I know -- I hope I'm don't sound like I'm suggesting otherwise.
It's just that -- if a woman in a fabulous outfit walks by, my wife will turn and watch and stare, commenting on the outfit.
But if a hot guy in a tight-fitting shirt and jeans walks by, she won't even acknowledge his existence. Altho she does notice, but she'll do everything in the world to not let the world *know* she noticed! It's like some big head-game, some power struggle I can't understand.
She seems to feel it's a sign of weakness to let the world know she thinks a man is attractive.
I agree....
Though I think we're talking from two different perspectives here....
From a just looking standpoint versus "Do I want to really get to know this person" view.
I suppose there is some truth to that.
But I think women have it better, the way men just worship the ground ya'll walk on regardless of what you wear, etc. As long as a woman is in basically healthy shape.
Hun,
I tell you right now, if I was with a group of girlfriends and your wife was with us and a hottie walked by, we'd be talkin' up a storm.
We just wouldn't do it in front of you :)
I do undersand -- my stepfather's an older Aussie guy who insists on wearing a spedo when swimming . . .
>>>shudder<
Yeah, that's why that answer ("In a nice suit") always bugs me a bit.
It suggests it isn't the man himself that is sexy, but the suit/status/money/etc!
But, what is, is. Can't fight nature.
I'm sure it's also why my wife bought me 3 very nice suits . . . :-)
Now the truth starts to come out!
You're prolly right!
LOL!!!
I'd do it in front of him!
If they can ogle while they are with us - I'm not going to stop a little head turn here and there.
As I've said time and time again, men are visual and women are tactile. (for the most part)
(However, I'm still working hard to get myself in shape. Down 15 lbs as of this AM. 25 more to go)
A good looking butt in a nice pair of Levis turns my head everytime. I don't think that has anything to do with "status".
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