Lisa Erickson
EAST LANSING, Mich.— When Michelle VanWingen decided to join the MSU cheerleading team, she had no idea that she would be involved in a lawsuit before the season even really got under way. But that’s exactly what happened.
“I just assumed that college cheerleading and high school cheerleading were basically the same,” VanWingen said. “I mean we do flips and stuff back home, too, but not like this. I didn’t expect this.”
VanWingen, a freshman packaging major, filed a sexual harassment complaint after Saturday’s football game against Pittsburgh. According to the statement, VanWingen’s partner kept placing his hands in inappropriate places and made several attempts to look up her skirt.
“That’s just the way we work around here,” cheerleading co-captain and VanWingen’s partner Blair Dunckel said. “So what if I have to place my hand on her butt to make sure she doesn’t fall over? If she happens to have a very nice butt, so be it. I really don’t have a problem with it at all, so I don’t know why Michelle does.”
Head coach Alisha Marquette has a very simple explanation over why VanWingen has a problem with it.
“All her life, Michelle has been known for her body,” Marquette said. “Cheerleaders have to look good; that’s part of the job description, if you know what I mean. But with the good body comes a lot of unwanted attention. Michelle’s just used to guys grabbing her butt that shouldn’t be. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve heard her complain about it, though.”
While being personally traumatic, MSU Cheerleading Alumni Association President Eric Swanson is less concerned with VanWingen and more concerned with how the lawsuit will affect his program.
“I was appalled to learn that one of girls felt the need to draw such negative attention to our sport,” Swanson said. “Alums are stingy enough as it is. They certainly won’t want to donate to a team full of perverts.”
No matter the outcome of the Sept. 25 hearing, VanWingen says she’s already considering quitting the team.
“When I’m on the field, I want to be treated like a professional,”
VanWingen said, “and I just don’t see that happening. That being
said, if I do decide to quit, Blair can come over to my dorm and practice
spread eagles all he wants.”
