Spring Break
Controversy escalates over offensive T-shirts
By: Shawn C. Millender
Issue date: 7/19/04 Section: News
When Aggie Democrats former president Nick Anthis went to New York Sub to investigate rumors about an offensive T-shirt being sold there, he had no idea what to think.
"It was much worse than I expected," Anthis said. "They were very rude and unapologetic about it."
The controversy centers around a T-shirt the restaurant is selling for $9.
It features an image of an elephant mounting a donkey on the breast pocket with the phrase "F#@k John Kerry" on the back.
"The front of the shirt insinuates rape when taken in context with the back of the shirt," Anthis said. "The owner claimed it wasn't, but that's what I saw. New York Sub has hurt the community by alienating (Democrats). It's inexcusable."
Senior construction science major Seth Stewart started working at New York Sub in September. He said Anthis' allegations are groundless.
"That's ridiculous, for someone to even say that. Nothing is funny about rape. At all," Stewart said.
New York Sub owner Austin Harkness said the idea for the shirt started with some employees who wanted to display their political affiliation at work. He said the original designs weren't up to the official dress code because the curse word on the back wasn't blanked out.
"We have liberal employees who are invited to make up any pro-Kerry or anti-Bush shirt as long as it's up to dress code," Harkness said.
Stewart said there has been no pressure from the management to follow along.
"This is using humor; it's not intended to alienate anyone," Stewart said.
Anthis reiterated that the issue was not about the restaurant's right to take a political stance or exercise free speech.
"Freedom of speech is not an issue here, no one is claiming they don't have a right to do this," Anthis said. "I just believe they need to exercise some more control."
Harkness said that besides a small but vocal opposition, the shirt has been well received by traditionally conservative Bryan-College Station.
"I don't want to rub anyone's nose in it, but there has been a sharp increase in sales since this started," Harkness said. "Any time you do something conservative or edgy in such a socially conservative town, you'll offend people. I'm willing to suffer the consequences and reap the benefits."
"It was much worse than I expected," Anthis said. "They were very rude and unapologetic about it."
The controversy centers around a T-shirt the restaurant is selling for $9.
It features an image of an elephant mounting a donkey on the breast pocket with the phrase "F#@k John Kerry" on the back.
"The front of the shirt insinuates rape when taken in context with the back of the shirt," Anthis said. "The owner claimed it wasn't, but that's what I saw. New York Sub has hurt the community by alienating (Democrats). It's inexcusable."
Senior construction science major Seth Stewart started working at New York Sub in September. He said Anthis' allegations are groundless.
"That's ridiculous, for someone to even say that. Nothing is funny about rape. At all," Stewart said.
New York Sub owner Austin Harkness said the idea for the shirt started with some employees who wanted to display their political affiliation at work. He said the original designs weren't up to the official dress code because the curse word on the back wasn't blanked out.
"We have liberal employees who are invited to make up any pro-Kerry or anti-Bush shirt as long as it's up to dress code," Harkness said.
Stewart said there has been no pressure from the management to follow along.
"This is using humor; it's not intended to alienate anyone," Stewart said.
Anthis reiterated that the issue was not about the restaurant's right to take a political stance or exercise free speech.
"Freedom of speech is not an issue here, no one is claiming they don't have a right to do this," Anthis said. "I just believe they need to exercise some more control."
Harkness said that besides a small but vocal opposition, the shirt has been well received by traditionally conservative Bryan-College Station.
"I don't want to rub anyone's nose in it, but there has been a sharp increase in sales since this started," Harkness said. "Any time you do something conservative or edgy in such a socially conservative town, you'll offend people. I'm willing to suffer the consequences and reap the benefits."
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