harbinger
What’s Inside
SHAWNEE MISSION EAST
• •
Mr. Appier Volleyball Yoga and Pilates
ISSUE 3, OCT. 6, 2003
After 15 suspensions, many varsity cheerleaders are spending this season
on the
sidelines David Vranicar • staff writer
Before it was on Fox 4, wdaftv4.com or 980 KMBZ, it was on the classroom intercoms. It wasn’t spelled out for the 2200 that heard it, but when an announcement called the entire varsity cheerleading team to the office, stories and suspicions began to swirl. “It’s the last day I’ll be wearing my uniform for a long time,” thought senior Laura Wilkerson,, part of the 17-person squad that was chopped to two on Lancer Day. Nearly 90 percent of the team was suspended from action after East was informed that all but two had been drinking the night before. The suspensions were a mandate of the SMSD drug and alcohol policy.
The district’s policy, signed by all high school athletes, is treated like a contract. Student athletes must sign it to play, agreeing not to use alcohol, drugs or tobacco. “The district policy is that an athlete who has an in-season violation is out for the season,” East athletic director Lane Green said. Even though the cheerleading season spans from the beginning of fall sports to the end of the spring season, the suspensions will be effective only through the football and boy’s soccer seasons. “The policy calls for that particular student to be suspended for that particular season,” district spokesman
Rusty Newman said. “For cheerleaders, they essentially have three seasons. The consequences are defined by each season.” The sequence that led to the suspensions started at 11:30 the night before when Susan Winters, mother of captain Caroline Winters, was awoken by the slam of her front door. The team was having a slumber party at Winter’s house, but some girls were coming and going into the night. Susan went to check on the situation as the noise persisted, at which time she found that the team had been drinking. “I called parents and I had Caroline, as the captain, call coach,” said Susan. “I talked to the girls until 2 (AM).”
see VARSITY, page 2
JV cheerleaders step up to fill the gap: PAGE 2