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.
But, that is not going to happen.
The point of my post, as the article reveals, is that the school has overstepped its authority.
I wish they would kick the homo club off campus. That ain't gonna happen.
That can't be a picture of their cheerleaders, in traditional cheerleader garb, because if it is, the cries of "hypocricy" are just breaking wind.
"Where do you take your family?"
We go to age appropriate movies, we eat dinner at Chili's or some other family oriented restaurant, church, school activities, grandma's house, skiing over the winter holidays. We like horse related sports, show jumping, dressage and barrel racing. Check me if I'm wrong but if we go to places where everyone is fully covered, does that mean my children are sheltered?
Unless you take your kids to places where the women are scantily clad and jiggle a lot, you are sheletering them and bringing them to ultimate harm.
Geezh, you didn't know that?
So it's OK for the basketball team to go to Hooter's but not for the woman to work there?
Sorry, but I disagree.
And letting the cheerleader cheer at a game knowing full well she was going to throw her off after, seems to me to be disingenuous. I wonder if the coach had an ulterior motive.
Little girls like Chippendales better! < /sarcasm >
"If the basketball team can come in here and eat, then I should be able to work (at Hooters)."
If the basketball team comes in wearing tight, short shorts to show off the size of their package, then it's equal.
"Unless you take your kids to places where the women are scantily clad and jiggle a lot, you are sheletering them and bringing them to ultimate harm."
Somebody call CPS on me.
Since you live in Texas, I would think it would be pretty difficult in the summer. I appauld you for your diligence but, eventhough their food isn't very good, Hooters is pretty inocent and your children eyes will not melt from their sockets.
Yes, but the picture in 60 is the uniform they wear at the games, and they are a bit more revealing showing off their mid-drifft.
That's the men's swim team.
ETSU probably lets them eat there too.
She graduated with honors and is going to ETSU? Guess their honors designation isn't that significant.
Half dressed? What Hooters are you talking about? The cheerleading uniforms are just as revealing as the Hooters outfits.
More so, if post #60 is any indication.
So even though Hooter's food isn't very good, I should take my kids there for what reason?
As an ETSU alum and an J.C. resident who has been to Hooters exactly once, ETSU's Tammy is way out of bounds. I worked in a night club as a bartender (serving liquor when it wasn't yet legal for sale in J.C.) while attending ETSU (Crow's Nest) and it didn't disqualify me from being on the Chess Team, etc. Tammy sounds like she's straining at a nat while swallowing camels.
How about if the cheerleaders go to a public function.
Oh, never mind. The school sponsors that display of short skirted, half shirted girls bouncing around.
After this woman wins her lawsuit against the school, she won't have to work there to earn a living.
You shouldn't take your kids there if you choose not to.
However, she shouldn't be dismissed from cheerleading merely for working there.
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