Editorial: Shirts hurt University’s image

Joe-College.com merchandise includes humor better left to children

By Tasha Riggins

Thursday, March 8, 2007

A University established 141 years ago has certainly made a name for itself. It has produced Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William Allen White, several NCAA national basketball champions and Alan Mullaly, president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company. With its distinguished alumni and accomplishments, the University of Kansas doesn’t need to be reduced to a picture of a sperm cell.

Joe-College.com’s shirts, though not associated with the University, certainly damage the University’s image. As reported in Tuesday’s Kansan, the Athletic Department took particular issue with the t-shirts’ negative focus. This comes as no surprise after the debates of the appropriateness of the “Muck Fizzou” shirts.

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Yes the shirts at joecollege.com are unlicensed, but the shirts are inextricably linked to the University because of their content.

If trademark infringement charges are the only way to protect the University’s good name, then by all means the University should file suit against Joe-College.com. A shirt implying females from Missouri are “trash” isn’t funny enough to tarnish 141 years of prestige. Implying masturbation, “Why play with Roy when we can play with our Self?” is potty humor better left to junior high kids that can’t come up with more clever and classy insults.

Yes the shirts at joecollege.com are unlicensed, but the shirts are inextricably linked to the University because of their content. For every person at the game or at home watching that knows the shirts aren’t associated with the University, there’s another person that thinks the two are one in the same. Bill Skepnek, attorney for Joe-College.com, was quoted in Tuesday’s Kansan as saying “Trademark law is not intended to protect a fool,” but do we really want our image in the hands of all those “fools” that will create negative associations between the two? Certainly not. Leaving the University’s image in the hands of all those inevitable “fools” is silly.

The University can and should take all steps possible to protect its good name. This isn’t about money — it’s about reputation and how the University community views itself. It’s good business to protect oneself. And the University is in the business of great students, great sports, great history and an even better name. When outsiders look at KU students, they should see the tradition and legacy of former and current Senators, actors, chemists and poets, not shirts that say “We know how to handle our balls.”

— Tasha Riggins for the editorial board.

 

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Comments

Editorial: Shirts hurt University’s image

So you never actually attended college? Don't kid yourself, this is a college sports issue...not a comment on the prestige of the university. Heard any complaints about so and so wearing a much fizzou shirt at a debate bowl? Nope. What makes college sports so much fun is the passion, and yes the humor. Do you honestly think the type of hs student that would be watching a KU basketball game is going to see a kid with any of the mentioned shirts on and say "OMG...students there have shirts that say THAT?!? There is noway I'm going THERE."

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