The official stance on the cheerleaders

I got this list on FAQs from the Beaver E-Clips newsletter that comes out every week or so. Just thought it had a ton of good info so I reposted it here.

This special edition of Beaver Eclips is being sent in response to requests from many Alumni Association members for more information about the university's decision to limit acrobatic stunting by its cheerleaders. Here is a statement released Monday afternoon by Luanne M. Lawrence, Vice President, University Advancement:

"Over the last week the media and Internet sources have reported changes to the Oregon State University cheerleading program. Unfortunately, much of the information has been misinterpreted or has been incorrect. With this e-mail, we would like to bring clarity to what is emerging through the Athletics Department in regard to OSU cheerleading.

"Nationally, colleges and universities are looking at safety concerns stemming from cheerleading stunts. According to the NCAA, cheerleading is the second-most "catastrophic injury-" prone activity. This year’s NCAA basketball championships barred stunting and reflect concern that has grown even more significantly as high visibility accidents, such as the recent Southern Illinois incident, brings to light the dangers of stunting. In the PAC-10, universities such as USC, Cal and UCLA have joined others like Nebraska and Duke in banning stunting during athletic activities. OSU is one of a number of programs across the country to examine the safety and support we provide to our students who participate in this high-risk activity.

"Next year’s athletic events will still be supported by a cheerleading team and by a dance team. The only difference is that the stunting will be eliminated. To counter some of the misinformation, OSU has developed an FAQ that follows."

Oregon State University
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Cheerleading

April 7, 2006 – To help clarify any misunderstanding and/or misinformation
regarding cheerleading at Oregon State University and to update the public with regard to recent decisions, the OSU Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics offers the following information:

Q: What is happening with cheerleading?
A: Contrary to erroneous media reports and internet gossip, Oregon State University is not discontinuing its cheerleading program. It is only eliminating the high-risk stunts such as pyramids and basket tosses.

Q: Will Oregon State be the only university that doesn't’t do cheerleading stunts?
A: A growing number of universities do not permit stunting by their cheerleaders for safety reasons, such as USC, Cal, UCLA, Nebraska and Duke. Other universities, conferences, and the NCAA are considering making similar changes.

Q: What is going to be the same?
A: Everything will remain the same for Oregon State cheerleaders with the exception of high-risk stunts. Cheerleaders will continue to lead the crowd in chants, help build fan enthusiasm, encourage crowd noise and create a fun, exciting environment at Beaver athletic events.

Q: Will the cheerleaders’ uniforms look any different?
A: No, the uniforms will remain the same.

Q: Will OSU’s cheerleaders continue to perform at all the same events, including road games?
A: Yes, they will.

Q: What is the concern about potential cheerleader injuries?
A: According to the NCAA, cheerleading is the second-most “catastrophic injury”-prone activity behind football. A study released in January’s issue of Pediatrics showed that cheerleading injuries across the country doubled from 1990 to 2002 for ages 5-18, mostly due to stunts, with a total of nearly 23,000 injuries in 2002. A 2003 article in the American Journal of Sports Medicine stated that cheerleader injuries were five times more common in college than high school.

Q: How will this move help OSU’s athletics department and its varsity teams?
A: Stunting requires a great deal of practice time and competes with men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball for time in Gill Coliseum and reduces the available time for our varsity athletes to do individual workouts. The athletics department will be better able to use its resources and practice windows to benefit its varsity teams. Stunting results in a higher injury rate per participant than our varsity sports. By cutting out stunts, cheerleader injuries will be reduced, and OSU’s training staff will be able to better serve our varsity athletes.

Q: Was this a financial decision?
A: No, cheerleading will continue to be funded at the same level.

Q: Does any of this affect Benny Beaver, the band or the basketball dance team?
A: No, those activities will continue as they always have.

Q: How can I try out for the new cheerleading squad?
A: Tryouts will be announced in the next few weeks, and information will be posted at http://www.osubeavers.com.

Doesn't sound like much of a change to me.