BREAKING: ‘This is sad’ Shocker basketball fans confirm worrisome news due to the cost for the university
A post that’s gone viral on Facebook reports that the cheerleading squad and the dance team are losing a prime spot on the court and may have to serve food during games
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Wichita State University has introduced new baseline seating for Shocker basketball games, a revenue-generating initiative that has faced backlash regarding its impact on the university’s cheerleading and dance teams.
A viral Facebook post claims that the cheer and dance teams are being displaced from a prime court location and may even be required to serve food to season ticket holders.
In response to inquiries about the changes, Wichita State stated that it is continually exploring new ways to boost revenue without increasing student fees, and that the new premium seating options could generate additional funds.
As part of the changes, cheerleaders and dancers will be relocated to the student section during games, while still having access to the court during pregame, timeouts, and halftime. Former Shocker cheerleader Faith Smith expressed her discontent with the adjustments.
“I hesitate to use the word ‘disrespect,’ but it feels like a neglect of the hard work and dedication these athletes put in. Many don’t receive scholarships; for instance, the dance team doesn’t have that support. They are expected to follow the same guidelines as other student-athletes, yet they aren’t treated equally,” Smith said.
Other alumni from the WSU cheer team also took to social media to share their frustrations, particularly regarding the proposal for spirit squad members to serve food.
Wichita State released a statement addressing the online discussions, clarifying that there has been some misunderstanding about the changes related to concessions.
The university explained that spirit squads and other organizations have the opportunity to work at the concession stands during games as a fundraising effort. Their statement included, “This year, athletics has paid for third-party staff (not cheer/dance) to serve as the main waitstaff/servers/runners for season-ticket holders in the premium seats.”