Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Mike Domitrz (author & speaker)" <>]

Below is an e-mail with news that is troubling to many of us working with
students:

Mike Domitrz
Executive Director of "The DateSafe Project" and
Author of "May I Kiss You?" A Candid Look at Dating, Communication, Respect,
& Sexual Assault Awareness and
Editor of "Voices of Courage: Inspiration from Survivors of Sexual Assault"
and
Creator of "Can I Kiss You?" healthy dating and sexual assault awareness
program.
Websites:  www.canikissyou.com, www.thedatesafeproject.org,
www.voicesofcourage.com
Toll-Free: (800) 329-9390

**Sign-up for our complimentary online newsletter and get a copy of Chapter
Eight from "May I Kiss You? A Candid Look at Dating, Communication, Respect,
& Sexual Assault Awareness at www.canikissyou.com



> Just in case any of you are feeling optimistic today, here's another
> downer.  Some of you may be familiar with the racist tone of some of
> this companies past products as well as (coincidence?) their racially
> discriminatory employment practices.   This time they seem to be
> targeting college students with t-shirts such as "Candy is dandy, but
> liquor is quicker."  or a horribly handwritten message that says "My
> boyfriends back and I'm gonna be in trouble."  or women's t-shirt that
> says across the chest "I see that you've already met the twins."  Below
> is a message from another list with a long link that needs to be cut and
> pasted carefully to get to the page to view the shirts in this new
> marketing line.
> --
>
> Here is an opportunity for your voice to be heard....Abercrombie & Fitch
is marketing a new line of t-shirts aimed at the "18-22 yr old" buyer....
According to the A&F web site: "our casual , classic, all-American lifestyle
brand of clothing is synonymous with quality. Although we specifically
target college students between the ages of 18-22, our appeal is universal."
For young males such messages as: "Together we can get the planet trashed."
For young females:  "Candy is dandy. But liquor is quicker." or see:
"Happiness Is A Strong Cocktail"  @
>
http://www.abercrombie.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10901&storeId=10051&parentCatgroupId=12203&childCatgroupId=12283&categoryId=12283&productId=209549&langId=-1
>
> The last time I got involved in an AF protest, they were using caricatures
of Asian Children along with very racist humor...they also considered this
to be "edgy". however the t-shirts were quickly pulled after the Asian
community and the adoptive families community protested to AF. (These were
offensive to anyone concerned about racial stereotypes, but as the mom of 2
daughters from China, I could not imagine my daughters seeing a young adult
wearing one of those shirts.)
>
> you may want to call the A&F's customer service line:
> 888-856-4480, and voice your concerns about this latest marketing
practice.
>
> Your voice can make a difference...  Please pass along this message to
others who may have concerns about the "pro-drinking" marketing to the under
21 years old consumer of AF.
>
> Eva Glahn Atkinson
> Director, Counseling Center
>
> Brescia University
> 717 Frederica St.
> Owensboro KY  42301
> Phone: 270-686-4282
> 
> www.brescia.edu
>
> "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Gandhi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
> 
> Subject: Abercrombie Pro-Drink T-shirts
>
> This press release was featured this morning on JTO in response to
> Abercrombie & Fitch's new pro-drinking tshirts.  Please consider
> mobilizing your peer educators and others on campus to contact AF and
> let the company know how you feel about their new line for teens. See
> below for more about the tshirts and for AF's contact info.
>
> Bessie Oster
> Director, of Facts on Tap
>
> NCADD: Tell Abercrombie and Fitch What You Think of Pro-Drinking
> T-Shirts for Teens
> 5/12/2005
> Action Alert
> National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
>
> Dear Activists,
>
> Abercrombie and Fitch, the clothing line so popular among young people,
> is once again dispersing with taste and appropriateness to send
> dangerous messages about drinking.
>
> The women's t-shirt line currently includes such subtle slogans as:
> * "Sotally Tober."
> * "If you can read this, you need another cocktail"
> * "Bad girls chug. Good girls drink quickly."
> * "Candy is dandy. But liquor is quicker."
> * "I see drunk people."
> * "Rum Forest Rum."
>
> (Visit www.abercrombie.com and select "women" then "short sleeve tees"
> then "humor")
>
> Young men have a choice of "Together we can get the planet trashed," "I
> give to the pour," "I brews easily," "Beer Fest Staff," and "Filler Up."
>
> According to the A&F web site: "our casual , classic, all-American
> lifestyle brand of clothing is synonymous with quality. Although we
> specifically target college students between the ages of 18-22, our
> appeal is universal."
>
> A&F's thoughtless and tasteless promotion of binge and underage drinking
> sends a dangerous message. The company's cavalier attitude toward
> drinking is particularly disturbing given the fact that alcohol is the
> leading drug threat for young people in America. Each year, an estimated
> 1,700 college students die from alcohol-related causes, 70,000 are
> victims of alcohol-related sexual assualt, and 400,000 have unprotected
> sex under the influence of alcohol.
>
> This is not the first time that A&F products have created controversy.
> Unfortunately, well-intentioned efforts to shame the company into
> pulling offensive materials or products has only lead to greater
> publicity for A&F's wares and further boosted their "edgy" image among
> teens.
>
> CSPI is developing an action plan to respond to this latest round of
> underage drinking promotional clothing. We'd love to hear your ideas on
> how to best address the A&F t-shirt slogans -- without creating the
> publicity bonanza A&F craves. Please send us feedback.
>
> Meanwhile, you may want to call the A&F's customer service line:
> 888-856-4480, and voice your concerns about this latest egregious
> marketing practice.
>
>
> As part of our mission to support communities taking action against
> alcohol and other drug problems, Join Together publishes selected action
> alerts. The views expressed are those of the issuing organization, which
> is solely responsible for the content.
>
>
> -- 
> Keith E. Edwards, University of Maryland
> Doctoral Student, College Student Personnel Administration
> Graduate Assistant, Beyond the Classroom Living Learning Program
> Office: 1104 South Campus Commons
> Mail: 0200 Calvert Hall
> University of Maryland
> College Park, MD 20742 USA
> 301-314-9860 301-314-6623 (Fax)
> 
> http://www.beyondtheclassroom.umd.edu/
>
>
>
>
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