Students say junior class shirt offensive to ND
By AMY GREENE
News Writer
The Board of Governance addressed the controversial shirts printed by the junior class at its weekly meeting held last night.
The shirt portrays two young girls, one with an "ND" on her shirt, the other a French cross, and a young boy wearing an "ND." The young boy is kissing the girl wearing the French cross with "The Girl of Choice" written below.
Board members attacked the shirt for potentially hurting relations between the two campuses.
"I am appalled by the shirt and work desperately hard to maintain good relations across the street," said Crissie Renner, student body president. "This represents everyone on this Board and I have gotten numerous phone calls about it. This brings us backwards from where we were going."
"When you put the `ND' on the shirt, that was a direct attack," secretary Amanda Spica said.
Notre Dame representative Suzanne Lohmeyer agreed, "I can see how it's `cute,' but one thing can start the whole ball rolling. I do see it snowballing."
Members questioned the stereotypes which the shirt seems to stregthen.
"How can we make certain judgments like that about ND women?" Kristy Sutorius asked.
"A really good friend of mine goes to Notre Dame and if she wore the shirt and the situation were reversed, I'd be really hurt," said Autumn Palacz, senior class president.
Controversy regarding the shirt has been escalating for the past three weeks.
"Since day one I have been worried about complaints," said junior class president, Katy Robinson. "I can't imagine selling the shirts now and only see the situation getting worse. I don't want to go through with selling the shirts. We're out $1,300 and I honestly don't know where to go."
Robinson said she was unaware of the final design for the shirt, however. She said she disapproved of the shirt design and instructed the junior board not to print the shirts.
"I told them to take the `ND' off and the next thing I know, it's printed. It didn't get conveyed the way I wanted it to," she said. "I addressed the issue with the Junior Board and stood alone in removing the `ND.'" The opportunity to change the idea was offered and some agreed to compromise."
Junior Liz Kocourek said the T-shirt idea came from the students and they should be left to decide if they want to buy the shirt or not.
"You can't all agree on one idea," said Kocourek. "Our meetings are always open to the student body and it's left to us to decide. If they don't like the shirt or the message, then don't buy it."
Other members argued that it was the responsibilty of student representatives to reject ideas that might seem offensive.
"The problem is you are appointed by members of your class," senior Molly Kahn said. "We are entrusted as student leaders with a special responsibility. I can see how it's `cute,' but it is inappropriate."
"I love Saint Mary's and by no means do I want to minimize the distance we've come," said junior vice president Erin Weldon. "Now we're making the issue public and it's only going to get worse."
Student Activities approved the shirt because it did not go against the Mission Statement or endorse alcohol, drugs or sexism, board members said. Other board members said that the shirt did endorse sexism.
"I think the shirt says that Notre Dame men hold control of women to choose," said sophomore president Kristen Matha.
"To me that shirt is sexist," agreed Kahn. "We need to confiscate and prevent any distribution of them."
BOG agreed to absorb the cost of the shirts and ban any distribution.
"We don't discredit the Junior Board," said Michelle Nagle, student body vice president. "This is an opportunity to learn and strengthen out relations with Notre Dame.
"You win some, you lose some and this is a learning experience," Renner said.
In other BOG news:
uThe Board approved a statement supporting The Observer's independence.
"We, as members of the Board of Governance, support the Observer's efforts in maintaining their independence," the Board of Governance formally stated last evening.
The Board had tabled the issue last week, but agreed a statement needed to be issued and believe "The Observer should be granted journalistic freedom," said Nagle.
"I don't feel comfortable sitting on the issue when we know they may get banned. Waiting isn't going to help and they need and want to know our position," said board member Julie Frischkorn.
"It's important to endorse The Observer," Kelly Dugan said. "If it comes down to them having no freedom even in editorials, [it] would be a travesty."
BOG's support for has become a more vocalized issue at both the College and University.
"[University President] Father [Edward] Malloy went ahead without addressing Saint Mary's and in doing so may be taking away our paper. It is important to support The Observer and let our voices be heard," said Sutorius.
uThe BOG also discussed the Study Day Proposal, which "has had very positive feedback from the Administration," said Nagle. "It will now be taken up with the Department Chairpersons and looks promising."
u"The Cider House Rules" will play in Carroll Auditorium Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Saint Mary's in the City and LeMans' Hall dance are Saturday. Pride Week is next week.
All News Stories for Thursday, September 28, 2000
