Point Park University cheerleading squad is heading into its second year as a club sport and is trying to earn a spot on Point Park athletic website.”It’s a big issue; we’re [still] considered a club,” Myrandah Straub, Point Park’s sophomore cheerleading captain, said. “We can’t get the funding from [United Student Government] because they think athletics is helping us out, and we can’t get the funding from athletics because they think USG is helping us out.”Although the cheerleaders are still struggling to obtain an official title from the university, they have made progress since last year. Not only do they have uniforms being prepared, but they are also fundraising a  lot to build the program. The cheerleaders are currently selling three kinds of Betsy Anne candy bars, which are gourmet chocolate covered pretzels, almond and peanut butter, and they are working the University of Pittsburgh’s football games as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers games in order to raise money.”We are really working hard,” Straub said, “The university paid for our uniforms but we do have to pay them back, so that is why we are fundraising.”Last year the cheerleaders were forced to practice in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom due to lack of space and support from the university.This year, however, the cheerleaders have been able to secure gym time on Sundays, and they also practice in the Student and Convocation Center’s 4th floor racquetball court on Tuesdays and Thursdays.Straub believes that Dan Swalga, Point Park’s athletic director, would like to be more involved.”He’s really supportive of us and he wants to help,” Straub said.The improvements the cheerleaders are making this year have been acknowledged not only by the university, but by the men’s basketball team, as well. “They are really cool,” Straub said. “They give us money when we are fundraising, and we help support them so they help support us.”The men’s basketball team started its season two weeks ago, but the cheerleaders have not made their 2010 debut yet. The girls will cheer for the first time this season on Nov. 30 at the men’s home basketball game against Walsh University.Marcelie Mosman, a junior advertising and public relations major and a new base for the cheerleaders this year, heard about the squad through their promotion of fliers. Mosman described her experience as “amazing,” but with one reservation.”The only thing I don’t agree with is that they don’t pay for transportation for us to go to the games,” Mosman said. “They can give us slips to excuse us from … class, but they can’t provide transportation.” Although Mosman is dissatisfied with the lack of university support, she has learned a lot and believes that the cheerleaders are like a “family.””It’s legitimate [this year]; it’s a huge difference,” Courtney Polka, a sophomore special education major and a member of the Point Park cheerleading squad. “We actually have tryouts, uniforms, funds and a real coach.”The Point Park cheerleaders are now coached by Tina Herald, a former University of Pittsburgh cheerleader, and Grant Morales, a current University of Pittsburgh cheerleader.”We … have more people, … standards and rules,” Polka said. “[The cheerleaders] have earned their spots, there is more dedication and it is taken seriously.”