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I haven't seen the shirt. However, EVERYTHING that depicts ANYONE in the ways that degrade a human being is unacceptable and unloving. There is absolutely NO reason why that shirt should have even been concieved. All of you cheuvanists make me sick and should be ashamed of yourselves!!! I hope all of you thought of your mothers, sisters, aunts, etc. when you created that disgusting pig crap. Also, Dr. Phiefer needs to consider the ramifications of these actions and the message that he is perpetuating to the Coe community (and human community in general). As for the shirts, I would have them burned and have the Flunk Day Committee (and Dr. Phiefer if he partakes in this) drink the ashes. Women need to be respected. THEY GAVE YOU LIFE! --------------------------- I agree that the shirts fall into the category of freedom of speech. I heard someone comment that Flunk Day is not supposed to be taken seriously and neither are these t-shirts. We should be thanking President Phifer and the Administration for the college environment that they have given us and the fact that we can express our opinions, whatever they might be, on this campus. People died for the right for us to do what we are doing right now. Think about that the next time you want to complain about fundamental rights. --------------------------- First of all, let's remember that this school is very liberal. Second, there is the first ammendment. President Phifer and the other executives have chosen to express the amount of freedom of speech/propoganda that is considered acceptable on this campus by signing/approving the T-shirts. Thirdly, MEN ARE BEING OBJECTIFIED AND DEGRADED IN THE T-SHIRT AS WELL. I'm sorry but not all men react to women the way the men in the t-shirt are acting. And finally, both sexes are being portrayed in a questionable way, therefore nullifying any seriousness to the shirt, therfore making the shirt acceptable as a joke and nothing more, thus nullifying this whole argument! Let's all just relax and remember the GOOD things about Flunk Day --------------------------- I personally think that the Flunk day shirts are not offensive to anyone. Take a close look, none of the men on the shirts are looking directly at the women, they are looking straight out from the shirt. Most women are flattered by the fact that men find them attractive, so complaining about a shirt that "shows" men "gawking" at women is saying you don't like men that think your atractive. Besides, if anyone has a problem with the women depicted in the shirt they should have a problem with any women who dresses and looks like those in the shirt, and there are a lot of women on this campus who dress like this. So, if you have a problem with it go up to them to talk about it. To finish, the women in this shirt are FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, they are not anyone specific, they are not ment to insinuate anything. Everyone reads into it what they want, so if you read it as offensive you yourself are offensive because you made it offensive. --------------------------- The shirt is for the people that participate in the party part of Flunk Day. Those of you who are complaining about it apparantly don't participate in that activity. In the past years there has been destruction of private property and some women exposing themselves on the inflatable slide. Yes, the shirt has depictions of women with hour glass frames and ample breasts but the guys aren't looking at them. Why protest this when there are so many other things you can protest in the community. Start a petition to get rid of Barbie and Ken dolls becuase they give an inflated sense of the human body to young kids. Petition the use of supermodels to model our clothes so we only think women like that look good in them. Don't petition a shirt that is to represent a day for students to let loose and get drunk if they want. Now if this offends you please feel free to reply and I will send you my opinion on this matter that is not censored. --------------------------- I think that in regards to the shirt being objectifiable to males as well, one needs to access the shirt. We have obvious Coe College male figureheads holding golf clubs that are supposed to symbolize their penises, according to the text, and curvy, faceless, women in provocative positions. I know the shirt is funny, but that doesn't make it any less tasteless. Everybody has a right to their opinion, even if it may be tactless just as everyone, as it appears, makes mistakes. Wear the shirts if you like and spill beer on them, it's Flunk Day, but don't be deluded to think that everyone is going to share your opinion about something that could so easily be interpreted as offensive. They are just t-shirts to me. --------------------------- Flunk Day is a well-entrenched tradition on Coe’s campus, and we enjoy partaking in the festivities as well as anyone. And why not? It’s fun to drink, enjoy the weather and camaraderie of your peers. Free speech is also a very important issue. Everyone should have the right to voice their opinions regardless of who they are or what the opinions may be. But there is something else at issue here. The administration of Coe College signed these shirts, endorsing them and the images they portray. Whether or not you feel personally offended by these t-shirts, it must be acknowledged that some members of the Coe community are offended. It is also a matter of fact that members of this community follow a campus civility statement that holds all members accountable, whether they be administration, faculty, staff or students. Freedom of speech must be upheld and must not be stymied. However, individuals who use their free speech must be prepared to be responsible and accountable for what they say. President Jim Phifer has been quoted defining civility as “the art of giving offense only when you intend to.” Clearly in this situation, individuals, though their numbers may not be great, have taken offense. Though you may not have taken offense to the t-shirts, some individuals have and to deny them that right is to deny their free speech. This is an important issue to discuss and reflect upon as members of the Coe community and one that requires careful consideration, not overly passionate outbursts. This statement is only the opinion of two individuals. There are around 1300 other individuals on this campus, and all should feel free to voice their opinion. But listening is also a vital part in the success of free speech. What is done is done. Wear the shirts if you want, or don’t. That’s your right. But let us remember that we are all—even the administration—held accountable for what we say, even on Flunk Day. ---------------------------- Obviously there are certain people who would disagree with any shirt that was produced for Flunk Day. Flunk Day, as well as the shirts are completely optional, no one is forcing anybody to take part in purchasing a T-Shirt, or the Flunk Day activites. Basically, if you don't agree with them, it's fine that you are voicing your opinion but this is a school tradition, so quit trying to take away the fun from everyone else. As the past e-mails have said, no men are looking directly at the women, and the women are obviously made-up. Honestly, even if you don't agree with drinking alcohol, are you really going to argue the fact that you have an excused day from classes at the price of a possibly degrading t-shirt? Get serious. If there were that much trouble with Flunk Day in the past, why would it still be around today. If it's that big of a deal and Coe College offends you that much...Well, isn't it obvious??? ------------------------------ Just about everything has been said and everyone has an opinion about the flunk day shirts. If you took the time to open this e-mail there are some things that should maybe re-thought. 1) I'm sure that there were no ill intentions by the actions of the flunk day committee or the administration. I think this is something that everyone agrees with. But what is happening here is a progressive movement to challenge the actions of those people involved and to more carefully consider the feelings of others in the future. 2) Some claim that the shirts are not offensive. Maybe not to you, or to me even, but apparently there are those out there that think otherwise. For this reason maybe we should reconsider their feelings when deciding whether or not to support the flunk day shirts. I'm not say you HAVE to, I'm just saying maybe you should consider the feelings of those offended. 3) These e-mails are not a waste of time. This is obviously an important issue that everyone has an opinion about. It is unfortunate that those who receive these unwanted e-mails have to spend seconds of their lives sorting through these "junk" e-mails and deleting them, but personally I feel that's a small price to pay. 4) First amendment... Yes, we are all entitled to an opinion. Precious rights are protected under the First. It is when our opinions, beliefs, or actions offend others that we must start to question what is being said and whether the first amendment actually applies. Notice that I did not say that the right to make these shirts is not protected under the first amendment. But when these freedoms purposely or in this case accidently offend other people, we must at least reconsider them. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the men are not really offended by how they are depicted on the shirts. On the same token, some women feel that this is personally degrading and that something should be done. THIS is the reason that the shirts are offensive. 5) Sure other shirts more crude or degrading are worn by students every day. The difference here is that the college supported these shirts in some way. Those that found these shirts tasteless are probably disappointed in the fact that members of their college (which tends to try to follow the rulebook with everything else) supported and made these shirts. I also believe that had the college known that they would have offended many people that a plan to change the design or something would have been done in advance would have been done to see to it that most everyone was ok with the shirts. 6) Flunk day is not just about getting drunk. It is a reward and a privilege. I don't think too many other schools allow a day where they know that underage drinking is going to occur and still allow the tradition to continue. Flunk day is something that EVERYONE should have the opportunity to enjoy. It is hard for some to do this when they are going to be constantly offended. The shirts, although offensive do stand for having a good time and everything that flunk day is about: reward for working hard, being a student, and our college's liberal beliefs. Conclusion: With this being said, I personally will not support the flunk day shirts, not because I find them offensive, but because other people on campus whose opinions I trust find the material degrading. I am not telling anyone what to do. I am however asking you to really think about what you may be supporting (besides the good times) by wearing a flunk day t-shirt. Thanks!
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