The University's Cheerleaders have taken a deal, proposed by the Division of Student Affairs, that will transform the squad into an independent sports club allowed to cheer at FIU games.

The deal, proposed at a July 7 Student Affairs meeting, would place the cheerleaders under Recreation Services as a sports club.

Cheerleading Coach Maria George expressed disappointment over the squad not being reabsorbed into the Athletic Department, but was excited over the prospect of continuing the program.

“We are all really excited that it was saved in one shape or form,” said George.

The change in program comes with significant differences. The main one being that the squad will now be responsible for coming up with its own funding.

Among some of the considerations the club will have to cover are the Coach's salary, travel expenses, equipment, athletic trainers for injuries and insurance. All areas the Athletic Department used to cover. They will also lose book scholarships, priority registration, and access to the training room and the Student Athlete Academic Center.

“The Athletic Department couldn't help us, “ said Cheerleading Captain Rachal Girolmetti, “but others stepped up to help us like External Affairs, and Recreation.”

Under the proposal External Affairs will help provide the new sports club with prospective donors, and help with promotional material. Student Affairs with Recreation Services will help with assistance in preparing the new club's budget.

Athletics, however, will continue to allow the cheerleaders to preform at athletic events and will also allow the cheerleaders to keep their current uniforms and equipment, as well as provide practice space, when available, at the US Century Bank Arena.

“We did lose the benefits we had,” said Cheerleader Tammy Cuevas, “but at least we have our team back. “

Recreational Services has a $10,000 budget that it splits between the 18 different sports clubs that the cheerleaders will have access to. These funds can be used to help with team entry fees for competition, team equipment, and athletic trainer coverage.

The Cheerleaders are in the primary steps of filling out forms and constructing a budget for their new club.

The new responsibilities of independent operation, including travel arrangements, organization and fund raising will be a “challenge” said George, but she expects to get through it with help of the FIU community.

According to George, they are receiving assistance from the administration in creating a Foundation account for donations, getting all the paper work together so those donations will be tax exempt, and they are set to receive a marketing package to help get the word out.

“We don't see it as a burden,” said Cuevas on the new workload. “This is our passion, we are really proud to be FIU Cheerleaders.”

The Cheerleaders were cut from the Athletics Department due to the department's recent $1 million budget cut.

“For the first time in the 36 years that I have been here we are talking not about growth but entrenchment and cutting back,” said Rosa Jones Vice President of Student Affairs as she lead the unveiling of the proposal to the cheerleaders at the meeting.

Jones mentioned how valuable the cheerleaders were before explaining the logic behind cutting their program. Aside from the $78,000 total cheerleader budget for this year, the department had to look ahead for three years.

“We are talking about almost $150,000 that we would envision we would need for the next year, and the next three years,” Jones said. “We are not going to go backwards, we are going to go forward to what we can do."

“We are excited to start practicing immediately,” said George, who for now is working as a volunteer coach and is looking forward to the start football season.

“This is what we love to do,” said Cuevas, “and we are glad we are able to do it.”

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