“Not Even Minimum Wage” – American College Cheerleading Teams Fight Financial Hurdles

In the heart of Massachusetts, collegiate cheerleading teams have always stood as beacons of high-spirited school athletics. However, hidden beneath their vibrant performances was a less glamorous reality, with several dancers struggling to make ends meet. Covering multiple universities in the region, an unconventional strategy made headlines in these tough times. 

Hoping for a positive change to their financial setbacks, the cheerleading team members were forced to laboriously fundraise for an upcoming event. From hard-hitting roles to undertaking odd jobs, they kept trying diverse ways to afford their way to national competitions. As these squads prepared for the grand stage, the disparities in funding and support left them shouldering expenses for costumes, among many other fees. 

Cheerleading teams face unexpected battles 

Casting a shadow over the joys of cheerleading shows, the monetary battles among performers became a stinging barrier in multiple institutions. Spreading across universities like Bridgewater State, Boston University, and UMass Dartmouth, the situation grew dire for their unfortunate students. 

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Subsequently, for Bridgewater State’s Kinetic Edge and UMass Dartmouth’s cheerleading team, their journey saw unprecedented troubles. While planning for the National Dance Association and the National Cheerleading Association, the students were bound to trade their dance costumes for polos and aprons. 

Adding to these cheerleading enthusiasts’ misery, the Kinetic Edge members were already working at Gillette Stadium, earning about $100 each. While this move was conducted to fund their competition endeavors, BU’s cheer and dance team grappled with another dispute. 

After being categorized under BU Athletics but not classified as varsity sports, the scene had led to funding hurdles, failing to cover their national competition expenses. Exemplified by Kinetic Edge’s proactive approach to cheerleading fundraisers, Boston University’s spirited squads also had to come up with a way out. 

Recurring financial setbacks pose consequences 

Despite their contribution to game day ambiance, the unfortunate cheerleading crew found themselves tethered to fundraising and part-time jobs. Moreover, significant costs were seemingly involved in attending nationals, reported to range between $20,000 to $30,000 for BU’s team!

Significantly, the amount stood at $20,000 for the UMass Dartmouth cheerleading team, magnifying the current financial strain on most of these athletes. While the repercussions sadly extended beyond monetary constraints, it encroached on the provision of uniforms, equipment, and even practice spaces. 

With BU’s cheerleading squad utilizing the same uniforms for over years of games and competitions, students mentioned bearing the $200 to $350 cost per attire. Shanna Martinez, a former BU dance captain, highlighted this condition of their costumes, with some dating over a decade and portraying evident wear and tear.

Graduating in 2022, she claimed her cheerleading team’s typical earnings were around $700-$800, coming from the cleanup sessions at Agganis. Expressing her candid experiences, Martinez remarked, “We have to take time out of our schedule to go and clean the stadium for only a few hundred dollars,” while adding, “Which, when you do the math, is not even minimum wage.”

Amid these adversities, collegiate cheerleading teams are now yearning for equitable support, akin to their varsity counterparts. Despite hosting school-wide fundraisers and relying on hand-me-downs for costumes, their financial burdens remained palpable. As former BU captain James La Rocca lamented this disparity in support, their narrative echoed desperate needs for fair treatment. 

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