OPINION
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2007
PAGE 5A
SIX YEARS IN UNDERGRAD
T-shirt issue borders on being censorship
Offensive or not, the "Muck Fizzou" shirt is still the embodiment of student expression
As an institute of higher learning, KU believes that the freedom for a student to express him or herself is paramount to the development of a diverse and educated mind. That is, until the student wears an almost vulgar T-shirt on national television. In numerous repeat offenses freedom of student speech has undergone scrutiny, questioning exactly how far that freedom extends. Campuses around the U.S. are addressing the same question that KU now must ask itself: how much censorship is too much?
Last week College Republicans at Colorado State University called for the resignation of the campus paper's editor-in-chief because he published a column entitled, "Taser This: F-- Bush" on the opinion page as a response to the Tasering of a University of Florida student. The blatant "F-- Bush" free speech stunt was harshly criticized by conservative students at CSU. Businesses that invested in the college paper have already pulled more than $30,000 worth of advertisements, afraid of bad publicity.
In 2004 a stink was raised at Texas A&M about a T-shirt that read "F#%k John Kerry." (Spelling and use of expletives is correct.) The plaintiff's argument was based on the accusation that the shirt promoted rape.
True, wearing suggestively vulgar shirts isn't classy, but it is a tradition in sports rivalries. Other popular versions of the shirt include "Wuck Fazu."
"Muck Fichigan" and "Tuck
Fexas." Those shoes are simply stating an opinion that "I Hate ___" wouldn't do justice for.
Mizzou sells a T-shirt with an upside-down Jayhawk on the front, and above it is written "Flip the Bird." Should ESPN be concerned that even though the shirt isn't actually flipping off KU, it is still suggesting the offensive action?
It is foolish and reprehensible for the University itself to condemn the Muck Fizzou shirts, taking a dangerous step down the slippery slope of violating students' First Amendment rights. Censorship is designed to protect people from potentially harmful slurs that would directly incite riots or violent behavior, directly provoke discrimination and directly offend mass groups of people. It is not, however, designated as the baby-sitter, putting children in time-out for having a potty mouth.
Should we start wagging our fingers at every potentially offensive thing printed on a T-shirt or in a newspaper? Should we not be allowed to wear anything controversial when there is a possibility of being on national TV? Or maybe the parking department could take on the additional task of ticketing people who utter any sort of fighting words.
Case in point, students should be able to wear what they want, provided that any sort of message stays within the protectable boundary of the constitution. The University knows that, and should be fighting to keep it that way instead of fighting to keep the athletic department's revenue flowing from ESPN ads and publicity. Muck you, ESPN. Leave my T-shirt alone.
SHARING STORIES AND FORGETTING TIME
McLeod is an Overland Park senior in journalism and Middle Eastern Studies.
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
Every time K-State beats Texas they play us the next week and get their ass kicked. Next week should be fun.
So, my roommate called last night when I was drunk. Heard something about "help," and then the call dropped. Haven't seen him since.
Paul Rudd rocks!
Free For All is bringing sexy back!
Wild Cherry Pepsi is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
I officially hate whoever just made fun of the women's soccer team. They kick more ass in a
It's nice that six school buses can take up 24 parking spaces, that they paid for!
Free for All, I don't think we connected the first time. But, I'll repeat. We need night buses that run until midnight on campus! I fear for my safety! Come on, help
single game than you will in a lifetime.
Woe is me. Too many tests in too little time!
me stick it to the man!
Free for All, I thought about you when I masturbated last night.
(Editor's Note: That's not awkward at all.)
Sexual responsibility necessary
Condom use, vaccination and disease prevention contribute to a healthy sex life
From the beginning of puberty all of us have had the principles of safe sex ingrained in our brains, so why does the question, "Should I get a condom?" even exist?
We live in time and an environment where the answer should always be "yes," no matter what. The facts remains, however, that not everyone wears a condom. In fact, many people have unsafe sex all the
time. This leads me to wonder if these people have a death wish or if personal preference just outweighs a lifetime of shame and desolation. If you have a long-term partner, then condom use can be a question, but that's only because you've earned the right to make it one.
The time when condom use is most important is during a random sexual encounter, perhaps after a long night of drinking in a bar named after our school mascot. The funny thing about random sex is that it usually isn't even that great. Whether the girl is a dead fish or the guy isn't that well-endowed, is a one-night drunken humpfest worth a potential lifetime of misery? Ladies, just hear me out here. If a guy buys you a drink, talks to you all night and
dry humps you on the dance floor, it does not mean he wants to be your boyfriend. In fact he probably won't even ask for your number the next morning and that's probably because he doesn't even remember your name.
Let's face it, chivalry is dead and so is decency. Lawrence is a cesspool of sexual deviancy. Do you really want some horrible night of drunken coitus to be your last memory of sex when you were clean? Which brings me to the next question. If you were unfortunate enough to contract an incurable STI, should you always tell your partner before engaging in any kind of sexual act? To that I would say absolutely, "yes," drunk or not. Every person deserves the right to know what they're are getting into. I know that it's awkward
and that your sex life will probably not be nearly as active, but taking responsibility and having respect for others should always take precedent over our own sexual desires. And the fact is that putting on a condom really isn't that big of a deal. It's not exactly rocket science. In this day and age, chancing it and not wearing a condom is like buying a one-way ticket on the HIV train to AIDS city, so wrap it up. It's that simple. And for all the ladies out there, I would suggest getting the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer. We women are on the receiving end of some very unfortunate diseases, so let's eliminate the possibility of getting hurt when we can.
Simmermon is a Leawood senior in journalism.
DRAWING BOARD
GUEST COLUMN
Typography matters when it comes to athletic uniforms
The classic Jayhawk font symbolizes excellence in a way that Trajan can't
BRIAN LEWIS
In the world of athletic apparel, change is inevitable. Nobody expects
the uniforms of this University to remain the same, indefinitely. If that were true, then the basketball team's shorts would still have belt loops and a 4-inch inseam. The Rock Chalk Dancers would be wearing full-length skirts, and the football team would still be wearing leather helmets. Change is often appropriate and at times, necessary. Who really wants to see Sasha Kaun's upper thigh tan and not the Rock Chalk Dancers?
Not every upgrade, however,
is necessary; some things about
our uniforms can and should stay the same. The classic Jayhawk typeface is a symbol
of athletic superiority. Why don't we celebrate this arcing typeface just as we do with the Rock Chalk Chant and waving the wheat? I don't work for the company on the other side of the country with "expertise" in type and graphic design, but I am a die-hard Jayhawk fan who has grown up with a tradition of KU excellence. I remember Greg Ostertag setting the school record in blocked shots. I remember Jacque Vaughn diving headfirst to steal the ball from an opponent to prevent an easy lay-up. I remember Paul Pierce burying the opponent with shot after shot in what we all knew would be his last game in the
Fieldhouse. Each of these heroes added to the legend of KU basketball while proudly wearing the classic "Jayhawk font."
I can understand some of the recent changes in KU uniforms. Switching from Nike to Adidas for athletic sponsorship, for example, was a good move; Adidas provides better equipment and support for all of KU's teams. I support the athletic department's desire to unify all of the KU athletic teams under the same typeface; something that this University needs to do in order to compete with athletic departments such as Texas, Ohio State and Florida. What better way to unify the University than to use one unique font that stands out above all
others? The classic "Jayhawk font" is as popular and unique as the Argyle pattern on North Carolina's uniforms. Why not take advantage of this notoriously and use it to promote all of the KU teams?
I propose moving back to individuality and away from conformity by showing off the "Jayhawk font" on all athletic uniforms. How sweet would it look to see Aqib Talib as a classic Jayhawk football icon wearing a classic football uniform? I don't even expect $80,000 for that marketing plan.
Lewis is a Hutchinson senior in health, sport and exercise science.
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Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen, Daria Silpe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angelique McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith
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