The cheer team at St. John’s University refused to perform at a Wednesday basketball game after the school’s athletic department omitted cheerleading from its recognition of Women in Sports Day.
The cheer and dance teams were set to perform at the university’s men’s basketball game against Seton Hall on Wednesday but instead stood on the sidelines wearing shirts that said: “WE ARE WOMEN IN SPORTS.” The group accused the university of leaving them off of the school’s recognition of Women in Sports Day.
WATCHDOG SHAMES GEORGETOWN, OTHERS IN ANNUAL LIST OF WORST COLLEGES FOR FREE SPEECH
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, university spokesman Brian Browne said that the failure to include the cheerleading team in its recognition was an “inadvertent omission.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“St. John’s Athletics participated in the National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 1,” Browne said. “The department recognized its female student-athletes and athletic teams with a social media post, along with an all-inclusive, in-game video board message and public address announcement to honor female athletes. There was an inadvertent photo omission of the university’s dance and cheerleading teams in the social media post. St. John’s University and the Department of Athletics value the dedicated contributions to the university made by all students and are committed to celebrating their achievements.”
On its Instagram page, the St. Johns University cheer team offered a definition of Women in Sports Day and said, “it is important that ALL women athletes are recognized for their hard work, dedication, and strength,” regardless of the day.
