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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">From the </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">IDAHO</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">
STATEMAN (</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Boise</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">),
2008.09.25:</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal;">September 25, 2008</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal;"></span></h3>
<h1><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal;">Idaho</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal;"> cheerleader coach quits over uniform fuss</span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">The </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">University</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">
of </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Idaho</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">
cheerleader coach who was responsible for uniforms that caused a stir over
whether they were too revealing or uncomfortable has resigned.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Cassie
Helm of Liberty Lake, Wash., told the Lewiston Tribune the halter tops and
black skirts with white trim were a good combination of cheer and dance styles,
and she denied claims by Shelly Robson, an adviser to the spirit squad and an
athletics department fundraiser, that some cheerleaders found them unflattering
and uncomfortable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">The
uniforms helped promote physical fitness, Helm said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"The
kids were real motivated to look as best as they could," she said.
"When you walk out there and you feel so proud about what you're doing,
that's the goal of the whole thing. The kids had the package."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">One
cheerleader, Heidi Lyons, 18, a freshman from Clarkston who is studying graphic
design, supported Helm's account.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"We
helped pick them out," </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Lyons</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">
said. "We wanted them with sparkles and all this stuff, but (Helm) toned
them down."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Helm
ordered a prototype before the season, and each cheerleader tried it on to get
a custom fit, she added.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"If
a girl wanted 3 inches added to the skirt, then the girl got 3 inches added to
the skirt," she said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">The
shiny uniforms ordered by Helm cost $4,200 from a spirit squad fund, part of
which is drawn from student fees.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">For
</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Idaho</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">'s
most recent game, the cheerleaders donned black volleyball shorts and football
jerseys. New uniforms, black and silver with a less revealing halter-style top
and a skirt about six inches longer, have been ordered with $2,200 in private
money and are expected to arrive by Oct. 4.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Helm,
who teaches aerobics and gymnastics, said she resigned because of the school
administrations more conservative vision for the spirit squad.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"It's
stunning to me because all I heard about was how awesome they looked," she
said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Lyons</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">
said the uniform switch deprived the squad its goal to excite the crowd at
football games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"That's
what probably hurt us the most," she said. "It felt like we were
stepping up, and it kind of felt like they were bringing us back."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">Helm
said some cheerleaders told her they cried after a meeting in which the
uniforms were confiscated.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;">"Kids
aren't crying if they hate something," the ex-coach said.</span></p>
</div>