mah boy got that axe
http://www.theeagle.com/am/Yell-leader-adviser-sidelined-for-video
Yell leader adviser sidelined for video
By VIMAL PATEL
[email protected] (
[email protected])
The way some see it, they were a group of guys -- four of Texas A&M's five yell leaders -- goofing off and being college kids on the way to last week's football game against Kansas State.
But according to university officials, posting a two-minute video of antics to a tune called The Ding Dong Song isn't OK when you represent the university.
"We've reminded the yell leaders that while they're in uniform they are expected to embody the school's traditions," said university spokesman Jason Cook.
"The yell leaders have taken responsibility for any negative attention their video has brought to the school that they serve," he said. "They've apologized for their actions and are ready to yell for the Aggies against Texas Tech."
But they'll be doing it without their adviser, Rusty Thompson, the university's associate director of student activities who was in the car and danced along to the song. He directed calls to the university's marketing department Friday.
The adviser travels with the group. Taking Thompson's place will be Bill Stackman, director of student activities. The arrangement is temporary, officials said.
"I could not confirm if any personnel action has been taken," Cook said. "It's our practice not to comment on personnel issues."
One of the yell leaders films as the others in the vehicle dance, bob and mouth the lyrics to the song, which features the chorus, "Ooooh, you touch my tralala." The video was posted online by head yell leader Casey Schaefer and had been removed by Friday, but copies were still available through other links.
"I was given strict orders not to answer any questions" related to the incident, Schaefer said. When asked from who, he said, "from above." He declined further comment.
Four of five of Texas A&M's yell leaders were in the car. In addition to Schaefer, Weston Wilcox, Travis Kennedy and John Busch were there. Reagan Thompson was not.
It was unclear what the objection was to the song.
"There is no student rule violation that's embedded in the video," Cook said. "The question is, is this representative of the university and the image that we want to portray?"
He declined to elaborate on what that image was.
He said that student affairs staff is looking into the matter. The vice president for student affairs, Joe Weber, did not respond to a message Friday.
"It's guys on a trip, just goofin' off and doing something they thought was kind of funny -- I can't see where the objection to that could be," said Bill Youngkin, a local lawyer and board member of the Former Yell Leaders Association.
"As the Shakespeare deal, much ado about nothing," Youngkin said.
One yell leader who didn't want to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation said the video was blown out of proportion and that they didn't intend it to be a representation of Texas A&M.
Texas Tech fans had been laughing about the video since it was posted online shortly after last week's game, some said.
Travis Cram, a 2007 Tech graduate, said he got an e-mail from a friend while driving back to Lubbock from Nebraska on Sunday. It said, "you have to watch this!" There was a running joke around campus that they should play the video during Saturday's game against the Aggies in Lubbock.
That won't happen, said Cram, who works for the Red Raiders' athletics department and also is director of the university's social media marketing.
"It's harmless fun," he said. "I hope no one gets badly punished over something that was just a funny joke."
The song was from Swedish pop star Günther. It's on his debut 2004 album, Pleasureman, which also features the cuts Touch Me, Naughty Boy and Enormous Emotion (I Love You).
"I don't know what kids listen to these days, but that's part of it, I guess," Youngkin said.