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Jun 24, 2009 6:55 pm US/Eastern
FIU Cuts Cheerleading Squad & Marching Band
WEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
What's a college football or basketball game without spirited cheerleaders and a raucous marching band? That's what plenty of people are asking themselves after Florida International University eliminated its cheerleading squad on Wednesday. The Golden Panther Marching Band was cut earlier this week.
The elimination of the cheerleading squad and marching band was part of a plan to cut $1 million from FIU's athletic budget for the coming year.
"It's our lifestyle, it's what we love to do, and to have it taken away from us, it's sad to our hearts," said cheerleader Jenny Mesa.
Other moves, including layoffs and other reductions, will be required as well. FIU's athletic budget was to be around $16 million.
FIU Athletics Director Pete Garcia issued this statement on Wednesday:
"This economy has forced us to make some very touchy choices. The decision to discontinue our cheerleading program was one of them. Unfortunately, FIU athletics is neither immune to the current economic conditions, nor to the fact that the university, in general, has had to cut prominent programs across the board."
The decision to cut the cheerleading squad isn't sitting well with Head Cheerleading Coach Maria George who claims she offered to coach the team for free and coach with no operational budget.
The school made a splash earlier this year when it hired Isiah Thomas to lead its men's basketball team. The Hall of Fame player will not make any money in base salary his first season, saying he wanted to lessen the burden on the school, which has made numerous other cuts in this economic downturn.
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