UK Fired Its Cheerleading Coaches For Hazing - The Squad Reportedly Got Drunk And Did Naked Routines On A Team Retreat At Lake Cumberland
[Lex18] - UK Provost David W. Blackwell said the review found:
- Coaches knew or reasonably should have known of inappropriate conduct by cheerleaders and failed to take sufficient steps to address the conduct;
- During a team retreat at Lake Cumberland, some cheerleaders performed gymnastics routines that including hurling their teammates from a dock into the water while either topless or bottomless. The routines, known as "basket tosses," were done at the direction of other members of the squad and within the view of at least some of the coaches;
- Coaches allowed cheerleading alumni to bring boats and alcohol to the retreat, where some cheerleaders were partially naked and/or drinking while riding on boats;
- Coaches did not confiscate alcohol brought to the retreat by some squad members or intervene to stop students from consuming alcohol. Several squad members became so intoxicated they required medical treatment; and
- During a cheerleading camp in Tennessee, some cheerleaders were directed by other members of the squad to perform lewd chants and wear outfits that did not include underwear.
Just some old school hazing leading to firing again. It doesn't matter if this sounds like Lake Cumberland hijinks if I've ever heard of it, if there's any sort of hazing in today's age you're going to get fired. If you've been to Lake Cumberland - especially party cove down there you know naked basket tosses is pretty much the norm. Now obviously this stemmed from a parent complaining because someone was uncomfortable and it's a long-standing tradition. Apparently these songs and hazing rituals date back to the 70s.
It's also pretty important to note this:
The investigation found no evidence of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during these trips.
We probably need to note that yeah hazing is serious. We've seen deaths and injuries from hazing across the country. It's sort of weird to hear them describe this as hazing though. There's not necessarily a charge in the statement that says anyone HAD to do this. It's more lack of coaching control since they were there and didn't stop any shenanigans.
But back to the cheerleading coaches. We can't just gloss over the fact that someone is named Kelsey LaCroix. That's the millennial version of Karen, no doubt about it. It's a complete parody of a millennial white girl name. I can't stop laughing at that fact.
Also can we talk about how players brought boats to Lake Cumberland? Where the hell did these boats come from and why is that even part of a story? Of course they brought boats to Lake Cumberland. That's all you do there. Fun fact: I got carbon monoxide poisoning (sorry haters, I beat it) Memorial Day Weekend of 2010 there. We were on a house boat and another house boat parked next to us and their exhaust got into our boat. Not the most pleasant experience. But the fact is you either have a lakehouse or a houseboat at Lake Cumberland.
Still got those 24 titles though