Assignment One Site Location: Cheer Nation Assignment One Cheer Nations Figured World

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Figured World: A setting/world that has its own actors who socialize in the appropriate way within the specific discourse community. I am observing the figured world of Cheer Nation, which is an UNC Charlotte Student Organization that I am an active member of. I chose to write about Cheer Nation because I have a passion for cheerleading and since I know this student organization very well being a part of it, it was a no brainer to choose this topic. Cheer Nations figured world has many settings depending on the occasion. The practice figured world happens in the Student Union where we practice for upcoming performances. How we practice is how we expect to perform so slacking is not acceptable. Promptness is essential because we have a small amount of time so the time we do spend practicing is important. Every week we practice two days out the week for two hours a day that gives us four hours to perfect, learn and change cheers. Talking is prohibited during practice unless we are on a break or asking the Captain or Coach for clarification on a move. Loud volumes are accepted because we practice using loud voices. Inappropriate behavior would be things such as talking back to the coach or captain, arriving more than 5 minutes late to practice, having an attitude and not wearing practice clothes (yoga pants, cheer shorts, basic t-shirt, cheer shoes). The performance figured world takes place at several school functions that we are invited to be a part of. These school functions are discussed in further detail under literacy practices. Appropriate behavior for the performance figured world is giving it your all meaning we have to perform with high energy, smile and say the words loud enough for the crowd to hear. Inappropriate behavior would include being dressed in anything besides the uniform and not showing enthusiasm. Cheer Nation has several discourse communities in the organizations such as different student classifications, the gossipers, the veterans and the rookies. Literacy Practices: the how-to-do in a figured world. The purpose of Cheer Nation is to promote school spirit throughout the UNC Charlotte campus through cheer leading and other campus activities. Cheer Nation is a performance based student organization that showcases school spirit at different functions. For example: The Student Union Takeover, Half Time at Womens Basketball games, or Student Organization showcases to name a few. The Student Union take over happens every semester in the Student Union located on UNC Charlottes campus. It starts at 8:00pm and normally ends at 12:00am. Cheer Nation performs three times throughout the night and each performance contains 3 or more different cheers. Halftime at the Womens basketball games consists of a minimum of three cheers. Student Organization showcases happen every fall semester of each school year, where Cheer Nation sets up a table and performs. Actors: members of the figured world that are of importance to the discourse community. Andrea Lee: Captain of Cheer Nation. She is the leader of this figured world who shows everyone the appropriate behaviors although she does break some rules at times. She is very opinionated and head strong for the most part she gets along with everyone on the team. Andrea leads performances and practices, introduces the team at functions, criticizes techniques and organizes the events Cheer Nation attends. For the most part

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Andrea is professional but she has her slip ups by not dressing out in the appropriate attire in practice. Alyssa Graham: Co-Captain of Cheer Nation, who is like the leaders right hand man in this figured world. She is the second set of eyes for Andrea during practice and takes her spot when Andrea is absent. The members of Cheer Nation have mixed feelings about Alyssa because she is very picky and judgmental when it comes to telling the members of this figured world if they are performance ready or not. Coach Blaire: Coach of Cheer Nation. She is the advisor of this figured world who has the biggest say so on what goes on. Blaire is a aggressive person who is very vociferous on numerous occasions. The members of Cheer Nation have mixed feelings about her because although she is great at what she does her attitude can be too much to handle at times. Blaire thinks her attitude is necessary to demand respect in this figured world. Interview: Andrea Lee three-year veteran of Cheer Nation answered the questions below. 1) Tell me about the founding of Cheer Nation as a Student Organization? How was this significant for UNCC? Cheer Nation was founded in the spring of 2010 By Le'Faith Shields of Winston Salem, NC. She came to college knowing that she had a passion for cheerleading, but was let down when she found out that there wasn't a team that fit her traditional form of HBCU styled cheerleading on campus. Le'Faith gathered a few of her closest friends and with the help of Coach Blaire; they created the student organization Cheer Nation. 2) Explain how you got involved with Cheer Nation? When I first came to college, I had planned to cheer for the Official 49ers Cheerleading team, but I wasn't impressed with their style of cheerleading, and they're lack of diversity on the team. I became involved with Cheer Nation my Freshman Year. I saw the team perform at the Annual Back To School Spirit rally in the union, and wanted to become a member because their style of cheerleading was very similar to the one that I was used to. 3) If you could change anything about Cheer Nation what would it be and why? When I first joined Cheer Nation, there was a lack of friendship and team bonding. It was literally Veterans vs. Rookies. That was one thing that I hated as a freshman. Upon becoming president my sophomore year, I set a goal to make new members feel more welcome, and as they were actual members of the team. I am still working to increase the sense of friendship amongst the team today. 4) Why are you apart of Cheer Nation? What do you hope to gain by being a part of this organization? I am apart of Cheer Nation because I love to cheer! I love our style of cheerleading, as well as the energy and precision we bring each and every time we perform. I simply hope to increase Niner Pride and school spirit to those that watch us perform. I can honestly say that I was excited and pumped up the first time I watched Cheer Nation perform, and I hope to deposit that same positive energy into every person that we encounter.

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5) Tell me about the different activities Cheer Nation does around campus? Cheer Nation is a performance organization that spreads school spirit all over campus. We have performed at numerous basketball games during halftime, CAB's annual 49er Madness Carnival, and BSU's annual Freshman Convocation. We perform during the homecoming parade each year. We have also cosponsored Beer, Wing, and Game night with the campus activities board. Artifacts: tangible and non-tangible items that have gained a great deal of meaning to the figured world. Coach Blaires iPad: Whenever you see Coach Blaire you will always see her with this iPad. She records notes, takes videos, takes pictures and sends out important emails to the figured world from this I pad. Once the members of Cheer Nation see her with this iPad they know that something important will be said. Performances: Cheer Nation as a whole takes performances very seriously because the reputation of the figured world relies on how others view them. Student Organization exists because of the students who join (get interested by the performances) and the feedback on the campus work that take place (ex: performances). Cheer Nation shirts: The shirts display the Cheer Nation logo and are worn whenever a major performance or appearance is being done by the figured world. Discourse Communities: Groups within the figured world that have shared qualities. People with titles: Coach Blaire, Andrea and Alyssa. These three people take heir jobs seriously and the members of Cheer Nation respect them for the most part. Coach Blaire and Andrea communicate the most and Alyssa often times get jealous and wants more of a control over Cheer Nation. The I dont cares: 4 Cheer Nation members. Each of these people shows up to practice a little later than everyone else and does not contribute to discussions in this figured world. They do as they are told but seem disengaged from the group most of the time. They dont care too much for the gossipers. The Veterans: Cheer Nation members who have been in this figured world for more than a year. These people show up to practice on time and are not afraid to voice their opinions when they want too. Alyssa is a member of this community and makes it known daily. Dislike the I dont cares. The gossipers: 2 Cheer Nation members: These two people show up to practice on time and contribute fairly to discussions in this figured world. On breaks they come together and talk about the bad and good of practice and how they do and do not like each member of Cheer Nation. They dont care too much for the veterans.

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The Rookies: Freshman that just became apart of the Cheer Nation figured world. They are still learning the ins and outs of this community. Observation 1 Student Union Room 340 D Wednesday August 28, 2013: The Student Union is located in a building by itself on the campus of UNC Charlotte on Craver Road; it is not hard to miss because it has the words Student Union written on it. There are three levels of the union, and the third is where Cheer Nation practice takes place. On the third floor of the student union there are numerous vacant rooms used for practices for student organizations. Room 340 D is used year around on Wednesday and Thursdays for practice. 340 D has four enclosed walls that are a tan color with a hard wood floor. The room is about standard size. 6:30pm- Most members of Cheer Nation show up to The Student Union room 340 D for practice. 6:32- Andrea Lee shows up eating a subway sandwich and wearing her outfit she has worn all day. 6:33- Andrea exits the room to go change into the appropriate attire in the bathroom 6:34- The I dont cares show up to practice and sit down on the floor. 6:35- Andrea enters back into 340 D and begins practice. 6:36- Alyssa tells the girls to get into any formation and begins to call out cheers and the girls respond either yes or no on if they like the cheers or not. 6:37-6:50- Cheer Nation practices at least 7 cheers back to back perfecting them. 6:50-6:55- A break is taken for water and snacks. 6:56- Coach Blaire shows up, greets the girls and sits on the floor signaling Andrea to come here. 6:56-7:00- Coach Blaire and Andrea have a talk. 7:00-Coach Blaire asks to see all the cheers we have been working on, Alyssa adds to do it full out. 7:00-7:15- All cheers are shown to Coach Blaire and see says Its ok still need work, now Im gone record it so yall can see what you look like. 7:15- The Gossipers laugh and the know it alls say Now do it full out. 7:16-7:28- The cheers are being recorded by Coach Blaire while the members of Cheer Nation give it their all. 7:30- Coach Blaire says that she is satisfied and that practice is over. Observation 2 McKnight Hall Wednesday September 4, 2013 6:00pm-7:15pm: McKnight Hall is located in The Cone Center located on UNC Charlottes campus. McKnight Hall is a 600-seat auditorium with two double doors used for the entrance at the front of the room. It also has two levels. The lower level consists of about 30 rows of seats with a stage in the front. The stage is elevated a little so there is a gap

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between the stage and the floor of the auditorium. Located on the lower level towards the back is a DJ booth. On the upper level of McKnight Hall are more rows of seats. Ten rows of seats are on the upper level. There is an aisle that goes down the side of each level. 6:00pm- Cheer Nation is setting up their table in The Lucas Room of the Cone Center. The Lucas Room is where the entire minority Student Organizations are invited to do an exposition of the organization and try to encourage new people to join the cause. 6:15- The first perspective student walks up to the Cheer Nation table. Andrea describes to her how Cheer Nation was founded and the reason why it exists on the campus of UNCC. The perspective student signs her name on a chart with her name, email, and phone number for contact purposes. 6:20- Members of Cheer Nation start to disperse into their discourse communities. 6:22- The gossipers exit the Lucas Room and begin chatting about how the first perspective students hair looks. 6:23- The I dont cares exist the Lucas Room and sit down on chairs located in the Cone Center and begin to text on their phones. 6:30- The Know it alls stay at the Cheer Nation table in the showcase and equip the table with pictures, pom poms, more signup sheets and posters. 6:35- A group of 4 girls walk up to the cheer nation table and Alyssa engages them in conversation asking them about their classification, cheering background, interests in Cheer Nation and etc. 6:37- The girls are intrigued by Alyssas conversation and they sign up as well. 6:40- Coach Blaire shows up and begins taking pictures on her I pad of the Cheer Nation Table, The girls uniform and the Lucas Room as a whole. 6:50- The several discourse communities enter the Lucas Room because they were told Coach Blaire has arrived. 6:55- Andrea clears off the Cheer Nation table and signals the girls to follow her into McKnight Hall to get ready for their performance. 6:56- Cheer Nation enters McKnight Hall in order of how they will stand in the performance line- up. 7:00- The second part of the Student Organization showcases begins which includes the performances of all the Student Organizations that had a table located in the Lucas Room prior to moving into McKnight Hall. 7:01- Cheer Nation kicks off the showcase with an intro cheer to get on the stage in McKnight Hall into the spots assigned in practice. The cheer repeats hey you know cheer nation here we go 7:02- The second cheer Charlotte Cheer Nation begins to take place as Andrea Lee calls it out by saying Ready and the girls join in. 7:03- The third cheer Rock the House is called out by a member of the Know it alls and the rest of the girls join in. 7:04- The fourth cheer We got that power is called out by a member of the gossipers. 7:05- The final cheer Jamming is called out by Andrea and the girls join in. 7:06- Cheer Nation shows spirit by yelling Lets go Niners, Go big Green and Charlotte while exiting McKnight Hall as the crowd cheers for the high energy performance they just witnessed.

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7:07- All the Cheer Nation girls huddle up in front of McKnight hall in the hallway to catch a breathe as Coach Blaire congratulates the girls on a good performance and signal them in for a picture taking by the I pad. Observation 3 The Lucas Room Wednesday September 11, 2013 5:00pm-8:40pm: The Lucas Room is located in The Cone Center on UNC Charlottes campus. The Lucas Room is a big empty room that is accessible from two double doors located on the main entrance ways. The room is standard being it has four walls and it is located on the third floor of the Cone Center. It is a large banquet hall used for multipurpose reasons. It has hard wood floors and chandlers that can be used on more upscale occasions. Things to know for trying out: 1. Coach Blaire is a big enthusiast on smiling and energy. 2. Coach Blaire loves when her cheerleaders wear their hair down (it swings more) 3. If you mess up, keep going 4. Try your best to keep up 5. If you need help just ask a veteran, we are more than happy to help 5:00- The members of Cheer Nation show up to the Lucas in a black or green Cheer Nation shirt, black cheer shorts and white cheer shoes. 5:03- A table is set outside the Lucas Room for two members to sit behind. 5:15- Chairs are being placed behind a row of three tables located towards the front of the Lucas Room that will be used for judging. Three chairs are placed behind each table for a total of nine. 5:20- The gossipers go out to Coach Blaires car and get a mat to bring in for the tumblers that are trying out. 5:25- Coach Blaire walks in and gives the actors of Cheer Nation a role in todays try outs. A member of the know it all will take a picture of each of the perspective new member of the figured world. Three of the I dont care members are instructed to sit behind the table to check in the new girls. While the rest of the team helps out teaching the cheer and answering any questions or concerns. 5:30- Andrea leads the girls over to the center on the Lucas Room and shows the cheer that will be taught at try outs today. 5:31-5:40- The cheer is being practiced and perfected. 5:40- Cheer Nation splits into its discourse communities and chat. 6:00- Everyone takes there position 6:01- Girls are being directed to the front table to fill out a yellow sheet with important information. After that the girls are lead to a blank wall with the number given to them at the table to take a picture on Coach Blaires iPad. Once all the work is done outside the room the girls are told to go inside the Lucas Room to stretch. 6:30- All 22 girls are stretched out, shown the jumps they have to perform and try-outs officially begin. 6:31- Andrea welcomes the girls to tryouts.

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6:32- The actors of Cheer Nation introduce themselves 6:33- The cheer is being showed to the girls. 6:34- The group of girls gets broken off into two groups to learn the cheer. 6:35- The Charlotte Cheer Nation cheer is being broken down and taught to the new girls. 6:40-Coach Blaire announces that we have 10 minutes left to show the girls the cheer. 6:50- All the girls are asked to leave the room. 6:51- Coach Blaire explains to the current members of Cheer Nation how judging will go. Nine veterans including the ones with titles will sit at the judging table ahead of the room and write down notes about each girl that comes in and try out. 6:52- The rest of Cheer Nation who are not judging exit the Lucas Room to help practice with the girls who are trying out. 6:53-7:53- The girls are called in order two by two to show the cheer we taught them, show a cheer they came up with themselves, show a jump asked by Coach Diana, answer any question the judges throws at them and show something extra if they would like (ex: tumbling or another jump). 7:54- Coach Blaire calls in the other members of Cheer Nation to join in the deliberation of todays tryouts. 7:55-8:20- Every girl who tried outs name and number is being discussed by the current 15 members of Cheer Nation to see who would make a good addition to the performance team. 8:20- The girls are called into the Luca Room by Alyssa and they sit on the floor facing the judging table. 8:21-8:25- Coach Blaire thanks all the girls who came to try outs and calls out the names of the new 10 girls who made the Cheer Nation team. 8:25- The rookies of Cheer Nation are asked to stay while the other girls who did not make the team are asked to leave. 8:26- Andrea hands each new girl a white folder with vital information about the fees due, dates of important performances, dates of all the practices and a sheet of the rules and expected behavior for members of Cheer Nation. 8:29- The rookies line up to take a group photo. 8:30- The veteran and rookies of Cheer Nation pose for a picture. 8:31- Everyone does the Charlotte Cheer Nation cheer while Coach Blaire records it on her iPad to post to our Facebook wall. 8:32-8:40- everyone interacts with the rookies.