The Angry White Boy needs to get a clue (“Angry White Boy questions new sports columnists’ game plan,” Oct. 11, p. 6). He may be angry about the level of writing in the sports column, but the comments he made about Boston University’s cheerleaders in his letter were simply uncalled for. It is appalling that The Daily Free Press would even print a letter with such false and degrading comments.

I do not understand Chris Pasquale’s blatant hatred for the cheerleading team. First of all, he has not even seen the cheerleaders this year, but feels compelled to belittle the team and all of its hard work. His belief that the cheerleaders are so far below the dance team is incredibly offensive and completely untrue.

I have been a sports fan all of my life, and I’ll admit that back in high school I would have been one of the first to criticize cheerleaders and what they call a sport. However, after coming to BU and meeting several of the cheerleaders who have been a part of the squad now for four years, my eyes were opened to the hard work, strength and commitment it really takes to be a cheerleader. They take time out of their busy class schedules, with physical chemistry labs and senior engineering design projects, to practice for hours on the same brutally difficult stunts just so they can help get the crowd into the game and build support for our Terriers. They may drop a flier every now and then from fatigue or lack of focus, but you try holding a girl up by one foot for even a few seconds and then tell me it’s a joke.

Now, I am not saying that they are any better or any worse than the dance team, because we have not seen what either team has to offer this year. However, I do think ridiculing the cheerleaders like Pasquale did in his letter is just outlandish. It’s possible that Pasquale was brutally rejected by a cheerleader at some point in his life, which could explain why he dislikes them so much, but there is no need to demean these girls.

I know for a fact that the team competed a few years ago in a national competition and held its own against some of the top cheer squads in the nation. They may not always have the opportunities to show everything they have, due to injuries and limited substitutes, but having watched and supported them for four years, I believe they do an amazing job with what few resources they have. Their spirit and amazing stunts give the crowd that perfect pick-me-up needed when the game is not going as well as hoped.

Janna Nichols

CAS ’08