SEATTLE — The University of Washington is receiving negative backlash after a cheer and dance "Tryout Look" infographic was posted on social media.
The graphic shows the do’s and don’t’s for women who are trying out for the schools cheer and dance team.
Some of the do’s include: bronze, beachy glow, false lashes and flattering eye shadow. And some of the don’t’s: dark, smokey eyes, nude lips and too much make up.
The Seattle Times reports the infographic was removed before 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The UW provided a statement Tuesday night but had no further comment to add to the matter.
"In response to a high volume of student questions about cheer and dance team tryouts, a member of the UW spirit leadership team created a graphic aimed at providing interested students information in preparation for the tryouts.
The graphic was removed immediately, after a UW athletic department official saw it and determined that some of the details and descriptions provided were inconsistent with the values of the UW spirit program and department of athletics.
Athletic department officials have reinforced the values of the programs to UW spirit leadership, and look forward to an equitable and diverse tryout process for interested students."
On the UW cheer detailed a list of Frequently Asked Questions on tryouts, which will start this week.
Meanwhile, users on social media are sharing what they think about the graphic.
"I am appalled that UW would imply that cheerleading is about looks and not an impartial contest of athletic prowess. When I see the squad bounce out onto the field, I can't stop thinking about how hard they train, how incredible their balance is, and how difficult it is to wave their pom-poms in unison," a Reddit user wrote on the Seattle sub-reddit. "Shame on UW for alighting the noble sport of cheerleading with sexist and sexual innuendo."
Others on Twitter are saying, "Don't like it? Don't try out."
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