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

["Ben Atherton-Zeman" <>]

Erin Lederer will graduate in a few weeks from the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte.  About a month ago, she went to her local “Wild Wing
Café.”  She was alarmed to find a drink on their menu called “Roofie Bomb.”


 

Erin approached the manager.  She politely but firmly explained that, as an
advocate for rape survivors, she felt that “Roofie Bomb” was an
inappropriate name for a drink.  She explained that every two minutes in the
United States, a man raped a woman.  This is no joking matter, nor
appropriate to name a drink after a rape drug.  

 

The manager listened but appeared uninterested.  Frustrated, Erin went home
and began gathering resources.  What would the next step be?  A protest
outside Wild Wing Café?  A letter writing campaign?  She wrote the company
an email asking one last time if they would remove the drink from the menu.

 

And they did!

 

Erin received an email from the general manager of this particular “Wild
Wing Café,” apologizing profusely.  The menus, he said, would be reprinted
promptly and the drink taken off the menu.  She then received an email from
the Vice President of the chain:

 

Let me start with a sincere apology for this distasteful mistake.  Our NE
franchisee picked this drink menu & recipe off the internet.  It was part of
a large file which they sent to the corporate office for their drink book.
The verbiage was then transferred in a word document and sadly escaped our
review.  We are applaud that anyone thinks this is remotely funny.  As a
female, founder, Vice President and marketer of this company it offends me
personally and it belies our corporate philosophy and our personal values.  

 

Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention.  I would appreciate it
if you would forward this response to the people you have contacted.  You
can be assured that all menu books have been immediately removed and new
drink menus are being created.

 

Sincerely,

Dianne Crowley

Vice President

Wings Over America

 

Erin visited a local bookstore and tried to look for any drink menu books
that included “Roofie Bomb.”  She found none, but that doesn’t mean it’s not
out there – anyone want to find it?

 

Thanks so much, Erin, for your wonderful work to make a difference!  Next
time I’m in Charlotte, wings are on me.  

 

(If you want to thank Erin, send her an email at 
.)
  

 

Until the violence stops, Ben.  
 
December, 2009: Need holiday gifts?  Buy Purple and Teal Ribbon Jewelry and
political T-shirts at www.voicesofmen.org!  The jewelry and T-shirts help
raise awareness about sexual violence and domestic violence.  Check out the
website and click on "Merchandise."  

 

My site has just been redesigned by my wonderful friend Mauri.  If you like
it, let her know, and hire her to do your website: 
.
Thank you, Mauri! 

 

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Maynard, MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," http://www.voicesofmen.org
<http://www.voicesofmen.org/> 
Booking information: 978-897-3619