30 U_ THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER

Student Body APRIL 1988

Death, paralysis spark tough restrictions on cheerleading
By Anne Upson of 1986, two unrelated but tragic acci- tragic incidents, said Triveline. allowed," Underwood said.
The Daily Iowan dents attracted the attention of While the Michigan cheerleaders "p
U. of Iowa national and state committees and were acquainting themselves with "These rules were put in place pri-
caused them to propose guidelines for their school's demands, the Big Ten manrly to decrease the potentiality of
Many people are entertained by the cheerleading. conference formed a committee in injury and to protect the individual
tumbling stunts of cheerleaders, but Although these two accidents were February 1987 to lookintothe dangers schools i the conference," Underwood

there is more to the craft than just
gymnastic skills. Cheerleading, like
any athletic activity, is not without
certain risks.
In the past 18 months, guidelines
have been adopted by several super-
visory boards, including the Big Ten
conference, that have changed the tra-
ditional form of cheerleading.
Now it's more than just rooting a
team to victory.
During a one-week period in the fall

not caused by specific problems in
cheerleading, they led to restrictive
action on the part of the U. of Michi-
gan. "The rules we put into effect were
... nothing built above two (persons)
high, no throwing and basically no-
thing three feet off the floor," said
Michigan cheerleading adviser Don
Triveline.
These measures were formed par-
tially to insure 'he safety of the squad
and partially as an outcome of the two

of cheerleading and to provide the con-
ference with official restrictions.
"There are no pyramids in basket-
ball (allowed)", Big Ten Commissioner
Clarence Underwood said. "Football
pyramids are reduced from two-and-a-
half to two persons high. The number
of travelling cheerleaders in football is
reduced from 12 to six and there is no
travelling for the basketball squads.
"Split catches, front and back exten-
sions, and toe pitches are also not

The findings of the Big Ten ad-hoc
committee have gotten mixed reac-
tions. Iowa cheerleading adviser Lee
Steenlage said the safety factor is in
portant but the restrictions may be toa
rash. "The restrictions have their
advantages," Steenlage said. "It
seems, though, that the Big Ten over-
reacted." On the other hand, Triveline
said he was positively in favor of the
legislation.


1 , t

U. of Texas, Austin senior Vernon Tippen keeps a
close eye on the target in preparation for hunting

Freestyle waterskier Vic Mosby, U. of Kansas senior,
takes to the air on a sunny day.

Senior Jay Cushman, U. of Texas track team member, pushes his limit even in
practice.

4

Rice U., TX rugby player Brian Holmes fights to keep his shirt on while evading two defenders.

A ort Texas u. women s soccer ciua memer
tries to keep the ball away from a defender.