The journey of a male cheerleader

It’s crazy how you can maintain casual college acquaintances for four years and yet never really know anything about them. Someone who was once a regular Xbox adversary can gradually regress to the recipient of a silent head-nod on College Walk. Such was the case in my relationship with Charles Green, SEAS ’10.

Over the past couple of years I’ve watched Charles vigorously cheer at nearly every Columbia athletic event I’ve attended. Often imploring the crowd to match his intensity, he has undoubtedly been one of Columbia’s most spirited students. What makes Charles unique is the fact that he is one of only two male cheerleaders on the Columbia cheerleading team.

At the Columbia vs. Cornell game last weekend, a friend of mine asked me, “Why does Charles cheer?” I had no answer to that question. Although male cheerleaders exist all over the country, the image of men cheerleading definitely contradicts the traditionally accepted aesthetic of the craft. Ultimately, only one person could answer the question of why Charles cheers, so I decided to call that man and ask.

I interviewed Charles on a cold January morning at Nussbaum & Wu. He arrived to our interview wearing a T-shirt that said, “You have the right to remain stupid—everything you say or do will be ignored.” I personally have never been a fan of T-shirts with slogans, but sometimes, when matched with the right owner, they can provide a perfect synthesis of irony and truth. This was one of those occasions. Charles’ candor during our interview was refreshing, and he truly had an interesting story to share.

With his father enlisted in the U.S. Army, Charles Green was born in the small town of Idar-Oberstien, Germany. He was diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia as an infant, and his parents fled to the United States to obtain treatment for their young son. Although his father, Charles Green Sr., went AWOL, he was not disciplined and was instead granted the first documented case of “compassionate leave.” The Army decided that the love of a father was ample justification for the temporary dismissal of stringent regulations.

Growing up, Charles was always athletically active. In high school he played football (strong safety/wide receiver), baseball (right field), and soccer (midfield). Charles said baseball was his strongest sport. “I was one of the best hitters on the team. ... I batted cleanup. I was pretty good,” he gushed. Charles planned on walking-on to the Columbia baseball team, but a series of events derailed that dream.

During his sophomore year of college, Charles began to battle complications caused by his sickle-cell anemia. Following a semester off, he returned to Morningside Heights. It was a friendly bet that led Charles to cheerleading. He bet a female friend that she couldn’t make the cheerleading team. She had to buy dinner if she failed, and Charles had to try out himself if she succeeded. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for Charles, she made the team as an alternate and quickly escorted Green to Dodge Fitness Center, where tryouts were still in progress. Charles admits that he was “initially standoffish,” but the coach convinced him that he actually had enough talent to make the team. For a competitive former athlete like Charles, that push to compete was the catalyst that led him to join.

I asked Charles, “Are you ever embarrassed or uncomfortable being one of the only male cheerleaders?” His response was, “Absolutely not. I’m comfortable being me. I wore mouse ears on Halloween against Yale! What people say doesn’t bother me.” I can certainly attest to that. Since I became friends with Charles as a freshman, he has always been comfortable being himself. This is a man who once chose to make a photo of himself dancing in boxer shorts his Facebook profile picture. In many ways I admire his willful disposition. Charles told me that his parents initially laughed when he told them he was going to be a cheerleader. Since then, however, they have been wholeheartedly supportive and have even attended several Columbia athletic events in order to watch their son cheer.

As a cheerleader, Charles has found the athletic camaraderie he had missed since high school. Cheering together and traveling for national competitions naturally breeds a sense of unity. Charles is proud of the professionalism and commitment that his fellow cheerleaders possess. He compared their relationship on the field (or court, mat, etc.) to that of Columbia football players Millicent Olawale and Austin Knowlin. “It takes a strong bond and mutual trust in order to catch each other and cheer as a unit,” Green said.

The cheerleading team practices twice a week and cheers at most games. Prior to each practice, the team runs two miles before beginning a practice regimen that includes dancing and tumbling. When asked if he had received any formal training in dance, Charles responded, “None other than being born with rhythm.” Modesty aside, Charles’ description of his practices was informative. He said that he is currently in some of the best shape of his life. Charles admitted that the locker room banter is “different with girls. I have to be a little more mindful of what I joke about.” With that being said, cheerleading has still given Green a wonderful outlet with which to kindle his competitive fire.

Following graduation, Charles plans to pursue a master’s degree in business, education, or engineering. His major in operations research and engineering management systems has given him all the skills necessary to flourish in any of those endeavors. For the time being, he plans to enjoy life and continue cheering. Although I’ll be in the stands rather than on the court, I will definitely be cheering alongside him.

Jelani Johnson is a Columbia College senior majoring in history.

sportseditors@columbiaspectator.com