The Harvard Art of `Rah, rah, rah'

Everyone followed the flight of the ball as it sailed toward the end zone, and cringed as the ball bounced off the Harvard receiver's chest--a sure interception. But as the ball began to fall to the ground, another Harvard player dove under it and cradled it in his arms--a touchdown that gave the Crimson a 14-0 lead over Holy Cross.

The few dedicated fans who attended the game rose in unison and cheered. It was at this moment that I glanced down toward the sideline and saw something, well, something out of the ordinary, I guess you could say--something even more unusual than a 14-0 lead over Holy Cross--something I never thought I'd see at Harvard.

A group of muscular men were lifting women in short skirts high over their heads and cheering for the Crimson. That's right--cheerleaders.

Now, most of you probably didn't even know that Harvard had a cheerleading squad. And now that you do, some of you may be conjuring up an image of a cheerleader that isn't all that flattering. And this image probably doesn't coincide with your conception of the typical Harvard student--you know, the one who's going to be the next great astrophysicist or President of the United States. But, remember--Harvard is supposedly a tolerant community.

"I don't enjoy the fact that we really don't get the respect or attention that we'd like," junior cheerleader Annette Del Barrio says. "There isn't that much school spirit."

Del Barrio is from Mission, Tex., where she was involved in competitive cheerleading.

"It was a lot more prestigious to be a cheerleader in high school," Del Barrio says.

Junior Mike Stone did competitve cheerleading in his hometown of Burlington, Iowa, as well.

"I think we're overlooked a lot," Stone says. "I actually didn't know Harvard had cheerleading when I got here, and I did it in high school."

Despite its low profile, cheerleading is a legitimate activity at Harvard, one that requires a commitment from its 12 members. The six-couple squad practices every Thursday night from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Quad, and usually holds an additional practice at 10 a.m. on game day. During these two sessions, the squad works out the stunts and pyramids it plans to perform at the game. This is no easy task.

"If we weren't in the shape that we're in, we couldn't do some of things we do," junior cheerleader Charlie Cardillo says. "There's a certain amount of risk involved."

"We consider it a sport. I come home with bumps and bruises every week," Del Barrio adds. "I've sprained both my ankles cheerleading."

Harvard does not have a cheerleading squad that could rival an Alabama or a Michigan. At Harvard, there are no cheerleaders for basketball, or for hockey--as there are in some schools. Nevertheless, Harvard is moving toward creating a more substantial cheerleading program.

"It's very serious now, and it's getting more serious all the time," Stone says. "Two years ago, it was very different. People saw it as a time to goof off on the field."

As serious as cheerleading gets at Harvard, however, there is still a lighter side to it.

"I like [cheerleading] a lot," Co-Captain Beth Pegg says. "It's really fun."

Cardillo tried cheerleading for the first time at Harvard.

"This is something I never really saw myself doing," Cardillo says. "My roommates teased me a little at first, but it turned out to be a good time."

I looked up at the scoreboard; Harvard was down by two touchdowns with less than two minutes to go. Hopes of a Harvard victory over Holy Cross had been dashed. As the clouds thickened over the Stadium, people began to file out. I took one last big gulp from my cup of Coca-Cola and prepared to leave. But as I stood up, something made me look down toward the sideline again.

And there they were, making their final pyramid of the afternoon.