Two months into the school year, students are discovering the high price of school spirit.
Cheer crew and dance team both pay to be involved.
“Both pay for their uniforms,” Raiderette and Cheer Crew coach Krista Russell said. “Dance team pays for their pep rally and field uniforms. Varsity cheer pays for their black and white uniforms.”
With two uniforms each, it can become costly. The Raiderettes’ Pep Rally uniform costs $182.03 while their field uniforms cost $102.84. The black varsity cheerleading uniform rings up at $177.15. With lettering that’s $35.75, the white uniform costs $182.65. Junior varsity has only one uniform, the RHS top, skirt, and lettering, which costs $156.65.
“It is a long term investment,” Russell said.
Varsity cheerleading is an expensive hobby with an estimated payment of close to $1,100.
Cheer camp itself is $300, not including transportation. Camp clothes are nearly $100 with tax, without, $97.75. Along with camp costs, there’s uniforms, shoes, bag, poms, leggings, midriff, bloomers, and warm-ups.
“They try out in April and they have until June 1st to pay,” Russell said. “It’s something you have to save up for.”
Price for a new Raiderette member is close to $850, but for a returning member, only around $235.
A new officer has to shell out $725. Though, with the amount of equipment they have to buy, it’s no surprise.
Two uniforms, four tops, two pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, tights, a leotard, a bag, a blanket, a hoodie, warm-ups, and camp are among the things a Raiderette member must pay for.
“The price for JV cheer is supposed to go up next year,” Russell said. “We’ll probably send them to camp which will raise the price.”
JV cheer, while still expensive, is only around $450. That’s about $650 less than what a varsity cheerleader must pay.
Not only do they not attend camp or have to purchase camp clothes, they only have one uniform. Other than that, JV has the same accessories as varsity.
But the Raiderettes and Cheer Crew, though maybe the most expensive, aren’t the only organizations at Rider.
“Band here is really cheap,” band director Loy Studer said.
With a cost of under $200, “really cheap” makes sense. The only things band members need to purchase are marching shoes, band shirts, gloves and a water jug. The most expensive of them being $32 for shoes. Gloves are only $5. They even have from May to August to completely pay.
“Money is never an obstacle,” Studer said.