Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wearing KU clothing has always been a popular way to show school spirit. But there’s a phenomenon on campus that bucks this trend. Amidst the sea of “hawkaholic” and “hill yes” t-shirts, a few non-conformists wear the colors of different institutions.
For various reasons, some KU students like wearing other schools’ clothing on campus. It’s important not to judge this minority, though. Instead, it’s necessary to understand the message that each different type of apparel sends.
First, there are the occasional community college t-shirts. Students wearing clothing from a junior college could be sending a couple different messages. They could be announcing, “I worked my way up from humble beginnings and earned my way into a respected public university.” Or they could just be trying to say, “I got lost on the way to community college. Please help.”
Reader poll
What non-KU apparel have you seen on KU's campus?
- Johnson County Community College apparel 12% 5 votes
- Pittsburg State University apparel 21% 9 votes
- Yale University apparel 24% 10 votes
- Kansas State University apparel 41% 17 votes
41 total votes.
On the opposite end of the spectrum from these modest community college t-shirt-donning students are the KU students who wear apparel from Ivy League schools. It can be startling to see a student wearing such a respected university logo in Math 101, but there are explanations for this rarity.
For example, it’s possible that these KU students were, indeed, brilliant enough to attend a prestigious college at one time. Unfortunately, they missed Spangles too much and returned back to the comfort of Kansas. These students still wear their Yale hoodies to announce that, if it wasn’t for their tragic weaknesses for Half Price Burger Monday, they would be on their way to brilliant law careers.
The much more likely explanation, however, is that these students went down to Victoria’s Secret and bought sweatpants with the logo of one of the country’s most respected academic institutions slapped on the butt.
This relatively new trend of exploiting top universities’ trademarks to sell clothing to anyone who wants to give off the “cute but valedictorian” look makes me question my generation more than anything else. And that includes “Jersey Shore.”
Finally, some KU students occasionally wear apparel from universities with names that appear made-up. Don’t be confused. This is actually a student who has studied abroad and would like to ensure that everyone around them is aware of this.
Any encounter with a student wearing clothing from an unpronounceable university is a chance to play “Guess the Study Abroad Country” with this person. To play, simply begin insulting every country you can think of loud enough for them to hear until they interject after hearing the home of their foreign university.
They will inevitably defend the country and admonish you for being ignorant of its “beautiful scenery and wonderful people.” This means you have won “Guess the Study Abroad Country” and you can award yourself 10 points. Earn five bonus points if they use an expression from that country, like “bloody” or “voilà.” A total of 500 points during your college career will earn the title of “Guess the Study Abroad Country Champion” or “Xenophobic Jerk.”
So, while school spirit is important, don’t forget to accept those with different preferences in college apparel.
Oh, and , if you’ve seen my Johnson County Community College snuggie, please let me know.
— Petterson is a sophomore from Prairie Village in journalism.
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Comments
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
Use Obama's Education Stimulus Package to earn a Medical Assistant Degree Online http://bit.ly/a80qrv
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
There are a lot of graduate students on campus that went to other institutions for their undergrad. Keep that in mind, too. As for freshman wearing a Yale shirt? That's kinda stupid.
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
I once saw someone on campus wearing a Missouri Tigers hat. What a brave, brave person.
Many of the people at KU I went to high school with feel conflicted on game days. Should I wear K-State Purple or stay true to my Alma Mater and wear that t-shirt with the smiling Jayhawk on it? Sometimes you can't decide and you just end up looking like a doofus with a KU T-shirt and a powercat hat.
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
I think that some of the freshmen who wear t shirts from other schools may have went to them during high school and did something special. I know when i was in high school i went to Missouri southern for a foreign language field day.
Also some people who wear ivy league school colors may have a. parents who are lawyers and went there or b. wanted to go but don't have the money. Or, they could have just been to stupid to go.
As for me, my mom went to Washburn and Newman, and my dad went to K State. So i rub it in their face that i am a Jayhawk. However, we did all go to the same community college.. my mom even worked there for awhile. So i have some apparel that says CCC and Ravens on it that i wear every now and then.
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
Why is this relevant? There are hundreds of possibilities. The clothing could be an ex's, it could be stolen, it could be from Goodwill, it could be a roommate's, or it might just not matter. If you're that worried about what other people are wearing, you need to re-evaluate your lifestyle.
Petterson: Translating the mystery of non-KU apparel
Dang some people just can't take a lighthearted, funny article for what it is....lighthearted and funny.
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