Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee proposed the creation of a T-shirt that would replace the popular “Muck Fizzou” shirts. ESPN refuses to videotape fans wearing the shirts, and the consensus of various student organizations is that a change in apparel is needed.
A new shirt is long overdue. The “Muck” shirts have lost any claim on originality they previously had. The joke is less funny and so is the shirt. Not only are they juvenile, but they unite fans against another school instead of what a shirt should do—bring people together out of pride for their own university. KU’s main exposure is often through televised sporting events. When our fans are seen wearing “Muck Fizzou” (and other comparable) shirts, it sends a message of tastelessness across the country. That is not an image that KU’s fans should want to represent.
The SAAC asked other student groups to participate in the creation of the shirt. The idea was to “create a T-shirt that is an appropriate and an accurate reflection of the student body,” according to a release prepared by the SAAC for each student group.
The more interesting ideas presented at the meeting were the inclusion of this year’s homecoming theme, “Jayhawk Nation,” on the shirt, and the building of a bonfire where students can burn their old shirts and pick up the newly-designed, obscenity-free models. Most of the groups agreed that the basketball players should be involved in their distribution. The SAAC might want to consult some students from the School of Fine Arts, as none were present at the meeting.
Student Senate President Hannah Love suggested the University purchase the copyright on the slogan, making it more difficult to reproduce the shirts. The SAAC quickly acknowledged that it was not here to put anyone out of business, which was a fair position.
But whatever the SAAC and the other student groups decide, they are basically asking the students to dress a certain way—a new, more appropriate way. Regardless of whether it is to bring the student body closer together, to clean up the overall image or to simply get back on TV, it’s asking some students to stop showing their true level of contentment with Mizzou. That in itself may present more of a problem than the general shirt change.
If the new shirts are well-designed and free, the change will go over well with fans. The success of the new shirts involves the SAAC making it an inclusive process, being open to new ideas and, most importantly, positioning the change so that it doesn’t come off as censorship, but as something positive for the University’s image. Thus far, it has succeeded.
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Comments
Editorial Board: T-Shirt controversy could be a good thing
quote,
contempt?
with respect to the premise of changing the slogan of the shirts; this is a meritable idea, but this is kansas, the student body is too enthralled with the vulgarity of the first message. students will keep wearing the original shirt regardless of what other shirt is proposed.
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