# College cheerleader sues over harrassment **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865 "2021-01-30T15:20:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/41 "2021-01-30T19:03:35Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I’m curious why your post is preoccupied with acronyms that are freely revealed in the link. > > So now that you’re curiosity is satisfied what else have you to say about the OP? I don’t think I should have to click on and read a linked article just to understand what the OP is saying. Links are to add context and details to a post; they shouldn’t be compulsory. And I already said what I have to say about the OP. This isn’t difficult. Just write out what you are saying. Why would anyone have a problem with that? This is the SDMB not YouTube comments or Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/42 "2021-01-30T19:05:18Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > After reading some responses, I asked my wife if there was an element of sexuality in female cheerleading. Her lengthy response began “Absolutely!” I just don’t understand what this has to do with the topic at hand. Check out any video performance of a singer and you will see an element of sexuality. That doesn’t mean they are expected to let people to grab their body parts. To even mention this at all should be off the table. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/43 "2021-01-30T19:18:23Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And if you told me that it was North Western Illinois, I would have assumed it was on the western side of it, not the eastern. It’s not. It’s Northwestern (no space) University. No “Illinois” in there, either. Great academic university; part of the Big 10. Yes, they are in the northeastern part of Illinois, but so is Northeastern Illinois University. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/44 "2021-01-30T19:29:54Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > they are in the northeastern part of Illinois, but so is Northeastern Illinois University. Well now, that’s just real confusing there… Their name really hasn’t aged well. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/45 "2021-01-30T19:35:34Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > This isn’t difficult. Just write out what you are saying. Why would anyone have a problem with that? This is the SDMB not YouTube comments or Facebook. Just pointing out that I’ve never been to Illinois, but I knew immediately that NW stands for Northwestern. It is a major university in the US, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/46 "2021-01-30T19:43:56Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I am curious why the OP did not write the name out and just wrote NW instead? Why not write the full name? It gets annoying that folks on the SDMB keep doing this. (bolding mine) Just in case anyone else was confused, he’s referring to the Straight Dope Message Board, there. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/47 "2021-01-30T19:45:35Z")
It’s fine. It’s the Northwest territory. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/48 "2021-01-30T19:55:21Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > It’s the Northwest territory. However, it looks like this discussion has gone south. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/49 "2021-01-30T20:10:48Z")
_Was_ the Northwest territory. As I said, it hasn’t aged well. I’ve really only ever heard the name during March, when it is almost impossible to escape basketball news, and it seems that they are often involved in that Madness. I actually always assumed that it was up in Washington state or something. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/50 "2021-01-30T20:48:09Z")
Oh come on now the OP is perfectly understandable with or without NW. you complain you shouldn’t have to click on a link yet you clicked on reply typed out your little grievance and hit send. Is that so much easier than clicking on a provided link to get the whole story? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/51 "2021-01-30T21:26:06Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > And I guess there is no basis for the common trope of women dressing as cheerleaders for sexual role play. I agree with most of the posters here, that the requirement that they fraternize with drunken tailgaters is harassment. However, I wanted to address this as well – yes, there a common trope of women dressing as cheerleaders for role play, but there’s also common tropes of women dressing as nurses, cops, maids, and men dressing as firefighters, cops. Lots of uniforms form the basis of sexy role play. So what? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/52 "2021-01-30T21:37:20Z")
**Modnote** : to you and **Chela**. Enough of this sidebar. Drop it please. NW is not clear but you’ve both posted enough about it in this thread. _This is just a guidance, not a warning. Nothing on your permanent record._ While I’m at it. @Dinsdale, they’re not wrong. Don’t use unobvious abbreviations in the future. You can take the time to spell it out once in your OP at least. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/53 "2021-01-30T22:17:19Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I agree with most of the posters here, that the requirement that they fraternize with drunken tailgaters is harassment. However, I wanted to address this as well – yes, there a common trope of women dressing as cheerleaders for role play, but there’s also common tropes of women dressing as nurses, cops, maids, and men dressing as firefighters, cops. Lots of uniforms form the basis of sexy role play. So what? Not to mention dressing as schoolgirls… I agree there is an element of sexuality to cheerleaders’ dress and performances, and also agree there is a big difference between those performances and being expected to mingle while in uniform and put up with sexual harassment. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/54 "2021-01-30T22:35:35Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I agree there is an element of sexuality to cheerleaders’ dress and performances, and also agree there is a big difference between those performances and being expected to mingle while in uniform and put up with sexual harassment. That’s the whole thread right there in one short sentence. Nicely done. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > It doesn’t matter if pro football cheerleading has an element of sexuality about it - women should be able to work a job that has a sexuality aspect without being whored out to have horny businessmen and athletes ogle and grope them outside of the work. > > Lots of dance has a sexuality aspect to it. Shoild a professional salsa dancer have to wear her skimpy dance outfits to receptions so the men can get nice and close and personal? Agreed. But you missed a key point. We’re discussing college cheerleading. Which fact makes the problems you point out even larger. Such as a greater age / power difference between harrasser & harrassee, the “job” is a volunteer position vs. a paid one, many universities (albeit not this one) are government agencies, etc. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/55 "2021-01-30T22:51:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > the “job” is a volunteer position Its actually even weirder. If those girls get any scholarship money, they serve to lose a ton if they get kicked off the team. If you are 2 years into a degree and lose your funding, you either have to borrow the difference or transfer somewhere cheaper. And credits don’t transfer smoothly. You’d lose a semester or more. Very exploitative dynamic. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/56 "2021-01-30T23:10:16Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > > [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > > they are in the northeastern part of Illinois, but so is Northeastern Illinois University. > > Well now, that’s just real confusing there… > > Their name really hasn’t aged well. Be very sure that this is the school you want your bachelor’s in Geography from before you commit. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/57 "2021-01-31T00:42:45Z")
So why bother bringing it up in the first place? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/58 "2021-01-31T02:08:03Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Correction, the uniform shows off the female form, legs, for even the littlest cheer girls. And yes the uniforms on pro and college cheer teams reveal abdomen, bust and I don’t see much butt. Like this, you mean? [![](https://i.insider.com/5e2ef32262fa8148bc0d2006) ](https://i.insider.com/5e2ef32262fa8148bc0d2006) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/59 "2021-01-31T15:36:15Z")
[Morgan Freeman voice] My, my my! How times have changed. [/MFV] ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865/60 "2021-01-31T17:40:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > where she experienced physical and verbal harassment. So back to the OP. Let’s accept the premise that the cheerleader role includes using sexuality as part of the performance. Singers do too. I don’t care if they are pole dancers. The job of performance should not require being put into a situation of harassment. Not what is signed up for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-cheerleader-sues-over-harrassment/931865.md?page=4)