I’m including a comment from a reader here on homecoming because it seemed relevant for everyone to check out.
OldYellKing said:
George,
Your observation is right on the money. When 1 girl from the 72 squad danced next to the one girl from the 73 squad who danced next to the 1 girl from the 74 squad you have to wonder what has disenfranchised all these great song girls. I understand that some song girls in their mid 50’s might not feel up to squeezing into their old uniforms or trying to do the routines I also suspect there are far more who would if the celebration/reunion was really special. I blame Art Bartner/The Trojan Marching Band for this…and of course the above mentioned advisors. All aspects of this reunion are under the control of Dr. Bartner. I find it stunningly arrogant that dozens of song girls are invited to learn a routine, squeeze into their old uniforms and run out on the field for one short halftime routine. No names mentioned, no article in the game program, no historical video on the big screen, and no recognition whatsoever for the pioneering girls of the late 60’s and early 70’s. So why bother? How many of you know that this year is the 35th anniversary of the white uniforms? You’ll never hear anything from Bartner or the University of the most significant event in SC cheerleading history…white uniforms first worn by the SC song girls in 1973 and designed by Debbie Funk and Margie Campbell. And the rest is history, white uniforms are the norm. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BAND…and that’s the same reason you no longer have the traditional slow and loud SoCal Spellout. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BAND. But that’s a whole other story…don’t get me started on the pathetic Spirit Squad.
Q: Re USC being ‘politically correct’ on the song girls controversy, if it doesn’t mean adding girls of different races, then just what do some people think it means?
A: Someone asked about this two weeks ago. Some, including me, thought it meant what you are referring to but other readers said it did not. I’ll let the readers weigh in again here on the subject.
Q: Why is there so much emphasis this year that the coach and advisor of the Song Girls are suddenly no longer on the selection committee, and claims they have never been on the selection committee, when that clearly goes against all evidence from the past, including what former Song Girls say? Lori Nelson claimed in the first Malcolmson piece that she has never been on the selection committee but that clearly contradicts the Celeste Fremon article from the 1990s which stated the exact opposite thing.
A: Charges of nepotism, in my opinion, are what fueled all the discontent with the song girls the past few months. I would take all claims on official websites with a grain of salt.
Q: Could the other athletic department staffer on the Song Girl selection committee be Yogi Roth?
A: No, he had to go to football practice during tryouts.