Hayden Richardson, cheerleader at Northwestern University, USA
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Prestigious private Northwestern University cheerleader sued for “school tolerated”
“The donor was asked to scorn… he had to act like a prostitute.”
(Chicago = Yonhap News) Correspondent Hyun Kim = A cheerleader from a prestigious private Northwestern University near Chicago, USA, has taken a head-on challenge to the structural gender discrimination and sexual violence problem located in the university district.
According to the Chicago media and women’s magazine Elle on the 9th (local time), Northwestern University senior Hayden Richardson, 22, said, “The university used cheerleaders to derive more donations from rich graduates.” Filed a lawsuit against it.
In a complaint filed with the Federal Court of Chicago, he argued that “while acting as a cheerleader, I had to risk being treated as a’sexual object’ and act like a prostitute to seduce wealthy donors. It was something that both me and my fellow cheerleaders went through.” did.
Richardson, who was on the cheerleaders team in 2018 and 2019, then coach Pam Bonnevier attended a tailgating party and school fundraising event in the on-campus parking lot before the sporting event, hanging out with alumni, major donors or potential major donors They stated that they had asked them to do their best.
“I had to laugh, take pictures and chat together. They got drunk, touched my chest and ass, and even gave me sexual remarks,” he said. “Sometimes, as a minor, I encouraged me to drink and even suggested to meet after the game. I said.
“I was proud to be a cheerleader and I liked the cheerleading activity very much, but the moment the school tolerated that my colleagues and I were the targets of sexual harassment and harassment by adult men, my self-esteem fell to the ground.” I filed a complaint with the school authorities, but it was not taken seriously.”
“The problem of sexual violence is widespread in college, especially among cheerleaders,” Richardson said. “Because university authorities that benefit from the program do not take any protective measures.”
“We filed a lawsuit to protect women from potential damage,” he said.
“I don’t blame college or anybody,” Richardson added, “because I think it’s a structural problem.”
He is known to have a double major in politics and legal studies, and plans to go on to law school.
Northwestern University defended, “We are reviewing the litigation document. There is no circumstances in which the university has violated the relevant law (Federal Education Act Article 9·1972).”
In addition, he said, “We will provide a support system to former and current cheerleaders. No discrimination, harassment, or harassment is tolerated on campus. We will take all matters seriously.”
In addition to Northwestern University, Richardson stated in the complaint, former Bonevier coach and three university officials as defendants. Former coach Bonnevier is reportedly not working at Northwestern University since October last year.
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