Lee Cheerleaders off the sidelines

By Associated Press

MIDLAND (AP) - The Midland Lee Rebel football team took to the field Friday night against Abilene High without running through the traditional spirit sign.

The team had no sign because no Lee cheerleaders, who usually hold the sign for the players to crash through, came to the game. They've been suspended while the county attorney investigates allegations of hazing.

"We've been getting quite a few police reports concerning numerous incidents of alleged hazing and we haven't had a chance to fully investigate it yet," said Midland County Attorney Mark Dettman. "But we're going to see how we can try and resolve the situation."

Until then, the girls will be held out of all school activities.

One of the girls, a sophomore, complained of being hazed during a pep rally skit several weeks ago. She said chocolate syrup was poured on her, ruining her clothes.

"They were supposed to notify me the night before and tell me to bring some extra clothes and put on a plastic tarp, but they didn't," she said.

The girls are reportedly squabbling amongst themselves, prompting principal George Cooper to issue the suspension and force them to resolve their differences.

"Additional supervision has not been sufficient to eliminate the discord that continues to exist within the squad," Cooper wrote in a letter to the girls' parents.

The girls, their parents and possibly an outside mediator are being given two weeks to clear things up.

"Certainly, this group of kids represents Lee High School in a very visible and public way," said Jimmy Kelly, the district's director of compliance. "If there are problems that they are experiencing, I want to give them the opportunity to resolve the problems."