'Beer' T-shirt sale slap in the face for Homecoming tradition

House Editorial

Beer. Beer. Beer.

Sure, the word is a great attention-grabber. It’s obviously gotten yours. But is it appropriate to combine the words "beer" and "Homecoming" and then call it "JMU spirit?"

Admittedly, it may be part of JMU student life, but it’s definitely not "spirit."

Three members of Phi Sigma Pi, the co-ed honors fraternity, didn’t seem to mind, though. Mimicking the Student Government Association’s "I bleed purple," T-shirts these individuals paid out of pocket to make more than 100 "I bleed beer" T-shirts, with "Homecoming 2004" plastered on the back.

The original idea was brought to the Phi Sigma Pi executive board to sell these shirts as a fund raiser. Thankfully, the board recognized that tastelessness of identifying honors students with "I bleed beer" and shot down the offer.

But a few students still went through with the plan, although the money now will go in their pockets instead of the fraternity’s bank account. Though tasteless, they have done nothing illegal. SGA made the minor mistake of not trademarking "I bleed purple." But the real question is, on a weekend when JMU is trying so hard to instill spirit in current and former students, how ethical is it to copy SGA’s famous phrase and sell it in a tactless light?

The T-shirts reflect very poorly on Phi Sigma Pi, no matter whose bank account the profits go toward. Members of any organization are walking representations of that group, and their actions affect how it is perceived by the public — whether or not it’s fair, reasonable or intentional.

It’s not just those Phi Sigma Pi members who should be ashamed of themselves — any person who shells out the cash in support of these T-shirts should be as well. When JMU alumni walk around campus, they are going to be bombarded with purple and gold, excited student ambassadors and crowds of gung-ho Dukes. The last thing they want their children to see is beer-guzzlers sporting T-shirts that reflect such an action.

SGA has every right to be furious. Along with student ambassadors, alumni relations and many other student organizations, it has created giant marketing campaigns to get as many people to as many events as possible. The last thing it needs is a few "I bleed beer" T-shirt wearers who unconsciously spoil the reputation of JMU’s true spirit.

While they may be appealing to some members of the JMU community, students should think twice before purchasing something that will make them and their school more difficult to take seriously, and the students responsible for the T-shirts should stop distributing such an offensive parody of school spirit.