Stop bullying T-shirts offers as Hutto high school student conduct rally

June 1, 2013, students from the Hutto High School's Students Against Destructive Decisions along with many others will join forces and converge on the steps of the Texas state capital in a rally to bring awareness to the problem of bullying.

Working in conjunction with SADD and Zero Tolerance Project, they will be selling T-shirts with the slogan "Stop Bullying" across a red stop sign.

I don't know where the funds will be going to, but I expect and hope, the proceeds will go back to keeping the SADD and Zero Tolerance Project operating to keep the awareness going and offering anti-bullying tactics.

Do good things.

Cordova Elementary School kids send signed T-shirts to Oklahoma tornado victims

Students from the Cordova Elementary School in Cordova, Alabama have signed about 100 T-shirts and sent them to the tornado victims which displaced thousands of families in Oklahoma in May 2013.  The T-shirts display the messages "We are praying for you" and "we love you."

For anyone keeping score at home, Cordova was hit by a tornado April 27, 2011.  The kids and community have that recent memory wanted to say they understood the trauma those in Oklahoma are going through.

Do good things.

Let the healing begin with T-shirts from Strongville teachers strike

After 8 weeks, the teachers strike in the Strongville school district in Strongville, Ohio, came to a conclusion.  With the strike resolved, students, parents, community members were looking for a way to begin the healing process after a long ordeal of doom and gloom.  

Owner Sue Walick of Strongville Spirit Shop teamed up with Colette Fine, and with some inspiration for high school student Robbie Kensinger, designed two T-shirts.  After numerous requests from people about how to begin the healing process, the T-shirts were designed.

One design shows the slogan "I survived #CSSstrike2013", which was used on Twitter by students, parents, community members and reports.  The other design has "Team Strongville" on the back and "One City.  One Goal.  One Team." on the front.

The T-shirt sell for $10 and sales have been brisk.  It doesn't appear the proceeds are going to a cause, other than allowing everyone to buy a low-priced T-shirt and celebrate the strike is over.

The power of a T-shirt.  Sometimes, even when the issue is about money and schools, a T-shirt can be a rallying banner, allowing everyone to come together and continue on with life.

Doing good things for those affected by the Oklahoma tornado

With the deadly and distractive tornado that ripped through Oklahoma on 05/20/2013, Hollywood, Universities and other people and groups are stepping forward to help raise funds for the families affected by the tornado.

First up is Kristin Chenoweth (star of Deck the Halls), who is a native of Oklahoma, is selling special T-shirts from the charity "Lending a Helping Paw" for $25 through her own animal charity "Maddie's Corner."  Her goal is to sell 1,000 T-shirts which should allow her to donate $17,500.  As an added bonus, an anonymous donor will match $25 for each T-shirt sold.  As of 05/24/2013, $3,500 has been raised with an additional $5,800.  Maddie's Corner doesn't indicate which disaster relief these funds are going to, but I'll assume she allocating these funds to an organization with boots on the group which can give immediate relief.

You can see the red T-shirt shown below.

Next, we have three Oklahoma universities banding together to raise funds for tornado relief by selling T-shirts.  University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa.  The T-shirts will be produced by Box Seat Clothing Company, but will only be available through the respective university's online stores.  

That's an excellent combined effort.  See dark colored shirt sporting the logos for each university.

My prayers go out those impacts by the tornado in Oklahoma.

Do good things.

Williamsville, NY lacrosse team remembers Billy Wilson

The Williamsville North High School (New York) lacrosse team honored the memory of former player Billy Wilson who was killed in Afghanistan in March 2012.  The T-shirts carry the slogans "Home of the Free", "Because of the Brave".

The story of Billy Wilson begins in high school when the lacrosse coach was forced to throw five players off the team for violating rules.  One of the players was the goalie.  To fill that hole, Billy Wilson, a freshman at the time, was put into that position.  While his start was rough, he took the opportunity to become better and show a quiet leadership that most took notice to.

Upon graduation, Billy entered the US Army where in his seven year career he led his squad on 200 missions, until sadly, he was killed in eastern Afghanistan.  

At the one-year anniversary of his death, 1,000 mourners gathered to remember Billy Wilson with T-shirts.  The lacrosse team had been selling air fresheners and buying T-shirts to raise funds for the Billy Wilson Scholarship Fund.  They presented the Wilson family with a check for $1,500.

Do good things.

Penn Wood High School Students show unity with T-shirts

In an effort to show solidarity and unity in the face of adversity, the graduating senior class of 2013 at Penn Wood High School (Yeadon, PA) chose T-shirts to express what they had endured.  An arson fire destroyed one of the two main building on campus, forcing students to relocate to different buildings throughout the year.  That's not including bomb threats and split-shift classes.

While wearing the T-shirts, which were provided by the school district and paid for through donations, a class photo was taken for the yearbook, as shown below.  The T-shirts, the photo, they allowed the graduating class to show their strength to overcome these difficulties and carry on. (CBD Local Philly)

Often, we see springing up from high school students are T-shirts in association with causes related to health and well-being of a student, or some conflict with the school board.  In this case, this T-shirt is more than the traditional senior graduating class T-shirt that is ubiquitous among all graduating senior classes.  This is a T-shirt that shows a unity with peers to overcome the difficulties in life.

Well done graduating class of 2013.

Stoke Poges village uses T-shirts to campaign against free school

In Stoke Poges, a village in Buckinghamshire, England, there is a push to open a free school in the village. This was met by a campaign of protesters with plans to gatecrash opening day for the school with T-shirts and banners.  The protest was conducted, silently, by hanging T-shirts and banners saying "Say NO to secondary school" outside the Pioneer UK site.

I thought the Clothesline Project was the only organization to hang T-shirts our for display without actually wearing them, to make a  statement.  Here, we have a case where people don't even have to physically wear the T-shirt for the T-shirts to be used as a vehicle for communicating a message.

Memorial T-shirts with confederate flag raises tension at Nixa high school

This is one of the super-charged subjects that involve schools and kids.

At Nixa High School in Nixa, Missouri, the student handbook clearly states that students cannot wear clothing to school which bears the confederate flag or swastikas, a policy which was adopted in the 1990's.  

On the anniversary of the death of Colby Snider, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning, student wanted to wear a T-shirt to school in mourning of snider, but were told they could not, as defined by the dress code.  Most did not wear the T-shirt, but some did and were disciplined.  Thursday night, a group of school student stood in defiance of the school board and wore T-shirts with the confederate flag.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the confederate flag and it being allowed in public schools, the act of putting the flag on a T-shirt and wearing it to school is a very powerful statement.  Those who want to wear the shirt are doing so out of respect for a friend and to show solidarity and remembrance to their heritage.  To others, that heritage and the symbolism associated to it is still a very naked and are racial issue that still persists in today's world.  It demonstrates that while the motives behind wearing such symbols of T-shirts are shrouded in controversy, it is a very powerful tool to show unification, division and make a statement about pride.

Memorial T-shirts raise funds for Pascrell family

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Pascrell was a genuine good guy.  Always had a smile on his face.  Sadly, on March 30, 2013, he was killed when a car struck him while he was walking on a Route 80 on-ramp.  A student at Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ), a group of his friends at Wayne Valley High School are raising funds for the family of this tragedy by selling T-shirts.  In the picture below, one of Michael's friends, Nick Tundo, is modeling the memorial T-shirt which was created by another friend, Dave Mateen.

The T-shirts sell for $15, and Mateen has sold about 100 so far.  Impressive, but this is not the first charitable initiative Pascrell's friends have started since his death.  The Delta Sigma Pi fraternity at Rider University has raised more than $8,200 for the Pascrell family.  The group wants to raise $10,000.  (Wayne Patch)

Such love and memorializing of just one local person is truly amazing.  In light of larger events such as the Boston marathon bombing, people can still come together and help a family grieve over the terrible and wasteful loss of a life.  Much love to the Pascrell family.  While the money won't return Michael to you, be secure in the knowledge that he will live for a very long time in the hearts and closets of friends and family by way of these powerful memorial T-shirts.

BNL Mass Media students sell 'Building a better future' t-shirts for charity

Student in the Mass media class at Bedford North Lawrence High School in Indiana have designed a T-shirt as part of the class project.  The theme for the advertising project is "Pay it forward", and they will conduct a fundraiser to assist children in community by selling T-shirts.

The T-shirt reads "Building a better future" on the front and quote from hall-of-fame football player Jerry Rice reading, "Do today what others won't, so we can do tomorrow what others can't."  T-shirts go on sale today for $10.  On May 13, 2013 a Field Day event will be held where students will be encouraged to where the T-shirts.  At completion of all events for the day, the Mass Media students will present Kyle Brown, the director of the combined clubs, with a donation check. (WBIW)

Its a promising sign to see the involvement of high school and middle school students continue to be involved with charity activities.  I believe beyond a diploma, this act of the Mass Media class is most likely one of the best memories they'll have of high school.  

Do good things.

Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night at EKU

The Clothesline Project was in Powell Plaza at Eastern Kentucky University April 23, 2013 where more than 100 people gathered to participate in the 10th annual Take Back the Night rally and march to raise awareness of sexual and domestic abuse.  

EKU students wrote personal notes, slogans and stories on the colored T-shirts to raise awareness.  The event was so successful it had to be extended.  Its good that awareness is being raised, but its also sad that we still have that many cases of abuse, sometimes resulting on death.  

'Break the silence, end the violence.'

No, you cannot support the US troops with a T-shirt

Cejai Taylor was sent home from Mahaffey Middle School for wearing a T-shirt which violated the schools dress code.  Emblazoned with the slogan "Support Our Troops".  What's wrong with that, one might ask, and how does it violate dress code.  School officials noted the shirt does not have a collar.  That can be argued from a T-shirt perspective, but according to the dress code for the school;

"Pullover polo style or dress shirts/blouses with short or long sleeves with a collar are to be worn." 

The dress code also indicates the following;

"No sleeveless, see-through materials, excessively tight or revealing clothing, or logos over two square inches (except authorized school logos) are allowed."

On two counts, the T-shirt in question does conflict with the dress code.  Its not that Taylor did anything wrong, other than wear a T-shirt which supports her dad who is currently deployed, and wear the T-shirt in a school at Fort Campbell, KY.

Again, Taylor didn't wear an offensive T-shirt or something to raise the hackles of school officials.  Its school policy to have students wear under-stated and boring clothing.  The focus should be on learning, not how cool of a wardrobe you have.  I understand that, it just makes for good publicity when a student is sent home for supporting her father who is in the military.  Its an unfortunate conflict.  If the school allows Taylor to wear her T-shirt where do they stop students from wearing T-shirts with logos and slogans.  Eventually, you encounter that breaking point where the perception and definition of offensive varies between people.  So, no logos, no slogans.

Be proud of your father and military Taylor.  You can't do it at school.  As we've seen time and time again, verbalizing support of the troops will be tolerated, but wearing the same slogan on a T-shirt.  That'll trigger a response nearly every time.

'Boston Strong' T-shirts - Update

In a previous blog entry we covered the story of two Emerson college students, Nick Reynolds and Chris Dobens, who created the 'Boston Strong' T-shirts and were donating the proceeds to The One Fund which helps those hurt by the Boston Marathon bombings.  

The two students were hoping to raise $1,500, but as April 25, 2013, they have raised $566,000. (Emerson College)

WOW!  That's great!

I hope we can learn something here.  In the face of great tragedy, the spirit of the community can be healed and united under a single banner.  I know many groups and individuals are designing and selling Boston Strong related T-shirts, but most are donating their proceeds to The One Fund.  We should all take the power of motivation from these two students as they… do good things.

Clothesline of T-shirts shown on University of Iowa campus

In the closing week of April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, A Clothesline of T-shirts was displayed on the University of Iowa campus to drawn attention to the cause.  As in all Clothesline displays, the T-shirts represent victims of domestic or sexual assault, some, unfortunately, which result in homicide.  

Hundreds of T-shirts hung from clothes lines as part of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program's Clothesline Project, which is a national effort.  Their message was clear; no victim is the same and no age is shielded. (Iowa City Patch)

Of all the causes for which T-shirts are used to raised attention to, The Clothesline Project is one of the more painful to recognize.  Some of the Clothesline displays can show hundreds of T-shirts, each a victim of a sexual or domestic crime.  Its disturbing to see so many.

Do good things.

  

Where is the line between Free Speech and Offensive T-shirts?

In this blog we've coverage numerous good deeds done through T-shirts.  We've even covered cases where people in positions of power seek to crush the expressions of a few because they felt the T-shirt was 'offensive' or could spark something more troublesome.

Here, I'd like to dig a little deeper into the subject of suppressing T-shirt designs.  I'm not referring to cases where public opinion dictates how a company conducts business through T-shirts.  A recent example of that is Nike removing their 'Boston Massacre' T-shirts from sale.  A common theme in Boston used in the past as a rallying cry.  But, with the recent Boston Marathon bombings, the populace is still rightfully raw about the subject.  I predict the pain will pass, and Boston will re-adopt the 'Boston Massacre' slogan and a rallying cry.  Maybe not for anti-bad guy reasons, but for sports, as it once was used.

The most common cases of suppression of free speech through T-shirts which supposedly contain offensive material, which is argued as our First Amendment right, occur in our public schools here in the USA.  And, most commonly, I see junior high school students being at the forefront of this conflict between self-expression and suppression of that expression.  The other, and more disturbing case of suppression, occurs from city officials declaring they know what's best for the city by imposing laws on what constitutes an offensive T-shirt.

Before we can question the right to suppress offensive T-shirt designs, we first have to define the terms.

What is an offensive T-shirt design?

If we're looking into the public school realm, offensive leans to sensitive subject matter in relation to the Gay issue.  Or, racial issues.  In the case of race, its usually someone showing support of their own heritage or showing respect for another.  Those are usually shut down rather quickly, as the school does not want to risk any racial-induced riots or fights.  I can understand.  In my youth, in my latter years of high school, we had an infusion of Vietnamese kids come into our school.  Mind you, we weren't that long removed from the Vietnam war, er, conflict.  TV and movies were still showing Vietnam as the bad guys.  We had a few kids band together with T-shirts with crudely written hate messages with unfortunate racial slurs towards the Vietnamese.  Things came to a head when a big fight broke out near the buses at the end of the school day.  It was got really scary there until the fight was stopped by teachers and school officials.  

The Gay issue in public schools is very unique.  I think for as long as there has been public school, there have been anti-gay statements made within the schools.  The word 'fag' was so over-used that it became this ubiquitous term used to denote anyone who was stupid, dumb or dorky.  If someone wasn't liked, for whatever reason, they were labelled a fag.  I don't mean homosexual in nature, just in a general dumb-ass nature.  With that in mind, kids today are incredibly savvy when it comes to proclaiming their beliefs via a T-shirt in response to the Gay issue.  As an 8th grader recently showed last month, wearing a message that indicated she didn't approve of Gays was challenged by a school board.  They felt it was hate speech, but the ACLU stepped in and forced the school to change its position on the grounds that the student's beliefs said that being Gay was not correct.  Not acceptable.  It was evil.  Wrong.  Her T-shirt made that point.  She was not claiming hatred or acts of violence against Gays, only that she didn't approve of being Gay.  There's your First Amendment right working as designed.  Even if the message sets your blood on fire, its the student's right to make that declaration.  Its your beliefs versus the other person's beliefs.  Its only positions of power that can suppress the beliefs of one in favor of another.

If we're talking about city officials, the word offensive usually has a sexual origin to it.  Its these people in positions of power who will create laws to force one agenda over another.  In recent memory, city officials in southern Florida towns have taken upon themselves to decry the abomination of sexually oriented T-shirts, and force retailers to position these T-shirts into newly created 'adult' areas for 18 yeas and older for viewing.

I'm going to step out on this subject with common sense and declare these suppression of rights, to display in store and sell these so-called offensive T-shirts, a very poor choice for two core reasons.

First, once the offensive T-shirt is legally viewed by an adult, and purchased by an adult, said adult can wear the T-shirt in public, in direct and unhindered view of children (gasp - oh the horrors).  We're talking about the same T-shirt which could see the store owner fined (substantially) for displaying it in their store in direct, unhindered view of children.  That reason alone shows a desire to punish the store owner for daring to even sell the T-shirt.  I'm sure city officials would love to fine and jail anyone wearing an offensive T-shirt in public, but they are at least smart enough to know when they are overtly trampling the First Amendment and common basic civil rights.

Second, with the curious, and unnatural aversion to sexually oriented T-shirts, why is not the same attention drawn to violent themed T-shirts.  Its my position that violence is much more corrosive to our youth than sex.  Have you actually seen some of the cartoons today's youth watch?  Try making it through just one episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants without cringing in view of the exaggerated violence.  One only has to dial the time machine back a few ears to the Power Rangers.  In its zenith of popularity, children were wearing clothes, had lunch boxes and all manner of merchandise of their heroes.  I personally witnessed children mock beating the shit out of each in their desire to replay those wildly violent battles they saw on Saturday morning cartoons.  

I find it truly mind boggling that people are more accepting of allowing our youth frequent and unhindered access to violence, but fall to near seizure mode when considering how to explain the world of sexually oriented material to a child.  I'm not calling into question the violence consumed by children, as I grew up watching the Roadrunner cartoons and I consider myself a respectable and stable person.  I'm no one special in that department though.  In the USA entertainment culture, it is incredibly difficult to to navigate life without seeing some level of violence in entertainment.  I hope that's not an argument for suppressing sexually oriented T-shirts.

So, what have we learned?  Have we defined what offensive means?  No, because offensive is subjective.  Offensive is defined by those in positions of power.  As a king may dictate laws of the land, edicts are established, based on the those currently in power, to suppress views and beliefs of others.  In some cases, those rules are in place to maintain a sense of peace, but in most cases its to further a personal agenda which is believed to be for the betterment of society.  

In closing, let me try a definition of offensive.  I believe any T-shirt with imagery or slogans which promote Fraud, Force or Coercion towards another person is offensive.  Those acts are morally and legally wrong, too, but to wear a T-shirt which promotes that is offensive.  That said, I don't consider "Cereal Killer" an offensive T-shirt.  Its punny.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Student arrested, suspended for wearing Pro-Second amendment T-shirt

Jared Marcum, an 8th grader at Logan Middle School in West Virginia, has been arrested, suspended, and faces charges for wearing a NRA (National Rifle Association) T-shirt with an image of a firearm (AR-style) on it, plus the slogan "Protect Your Rights".  Jared wore the T-shirt thinking there wouldn't be a problem.  Why would there be, he included. (WOWK-TV)

Logan Middle School’s policy regarding dress states:

"A student will not dress or groom in a manner that disrupts the educational process or is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of others. A student will not dress in a manner that is distractive or indecent, to the extent that it interferes with the teaching and learning process, including wearing any apparel that displays or promotes any drug-, alcohol- or tobacco-related product that is prohibited in school buildings, on school grounds, in school-leased or owned vehicles, and at all school-affiliated functions."

With that said, Jared got into an argument with a teacher over the T-shirt which resulted in Jared getting arrested on the grounds that he was "disrupting the educational process."  A weak position, at best, by the teacher and school.  Abusing power to enforce an agenda in response to an emotional issue - gun control.  

My suggestion to Jared and his father, call the ACLU.  About a month ago they worked with a middle schooler which allowed her to wear an anti-gay T-shirt.  It wasn't considered hate speech, but considered a message based upon her religious beliefs.

The power of a T-shirt can be no stronger than within the confines of a public school system.  Students, teacher, parents, school boards and the community are all tested when a student dares to stand up against the normalization of the kids and expresses themselves in a peaceful manner.

Was the school justified in arresting and suspending the student?  

Are Space Camp T-shirts sexist?

Recently, someone spotted that the website Space Camp was selling sexists T-shirts.  I took a close look at this, and yes, Space Camp does offer the T-shirts shown below in their clearance section.  In relation to being sexist, the only facts you can use to make a sexist conclusion is the one T-shirt is unisex, while the other is a traditional female cut, with the shortened sleeves.  On the T-shirts, two words stand out as being different.  The unisex, or easily classified as "male" in relation to a female cut style, show the word "Achieve", while the female cut shows the word "Dream."

I've thought about this and I think there may be a heightened level sensitivity going on here, with the recent sexist Marvel T-shirts.  http://redhotinkers.blogspot.com/2013/04/news-marvel-comics-t-shirts-are-sexist.html

Thinking on this more, I'm not so sure this is a sexist goof or an intended slight against females.  Studies have been conducted which indicate the number of women earning degrees in science, technology, engineering and math has declined in this male-dominated field.  At least here in the USA.  With that said, I'm having a difficult time convincing myself that the word "Dream" is morally negative, demeaning, hurtful and depressing to females in comparison to the word "Achieve."

The slogan on the female cut T-shirt is more apropos to me, in terms of space.  "Explore.  Discover.  Dream." is definitely more fitting than to "Achieve" as displayed on the unisex T-shirt, which I will note, females can wear, too.  Conversely, you won't see many boys wearing the "Explore Discover Dream" female cut T-shirts, which I think is a better slogan for space.  If we're talking about, say, Track & Field events, then yes, I'd say Achieve versus Dream do come across as sexist.  For Space Camp, if one can make an argument for sexists T-shirt, I believe it was unintentional.  

What do you think?

SUNY Orange displays T-shirts to bring awareness of domestic violence

With it being Sexual Assault Awareness month in April, Lexi Casalino of SUNY Orange community college was hanging the color-coded T-shirts on a staircase railings with anonymously decorated with messages against domestic violence, and violence against women.  Similar to Clothesline displays where people decorate T-shirts with their stories or messages to bring about awareness of this terrible blight on our society, Casalino's efforts are truly noble.  

If you're in the area of SUNY Orange community college, go to the Kaplan Hall on the Newburgh campus to view the T-shirts.

Do good things.

Sexual Assault Awareness month - RIC student decorate T-shirts

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Women's Center at the Rhode Island College worked in conjunction with The Clothesline Project to decorate about 30 T-shirts with messages to bring awareness to the issue of violence against women.

Jessica Crowe, coordinator of the Women's Center and student at RIC, says this is a great event.  Spanning Rhode Island to Tanzania, there are an estimated 500 international Clothesline Projects consisting of about 60,000 T-shirts. (Rhode Island College)

Awareness is a good objective.  Often, many good causes are missed because there was not sufficient awareness.  

Do good things.

Free T-shirts during Veishea promote moderation during festivities

Iowa State Police and Ames police are taking action to make sure those attending the Veishea festivities know when to quit, and to help reduce the number of intoxicated-related incidents.  Last year, Ames and ISU police responded to 534 incidents, at the Veishea festivities. 62 arrests were made and 46 citation issued.  Its the single biggest event they staff during the year.

To help reduce the incidents, free T-shirts will be given away as part of their program to education people on how to behave during the Veishea festivities.  The T-shirts will use their mascot "Frank the Flamingo" who they have used in past years.  In addition to the local students who attend, it also draws hundreds of students form other schools.  (Iowa State Daily)

It seems there will be a lot of people there, and lots of police.  Enjoy yourself, but moderate your self.

If you're interested more in the Veishea event, look at the wikipedia link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veishea