Texas Tech bans sale of Vick 'Em shirts

Texas Tech bans sale of Vick 'Em shirts

By: Chris Hokanson

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: News

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Media Credit: File - The Battalion

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Administrators at Texas Tech University said Tuesday that they have banned all sales of the "Vick 'Em" T-shirt.

The shirt, featuring the words "Vick 'Em" on the front and an image on the back representing Michael Vick hanging A&M's mascot Reveille in a noose, was being sold by Tech student Geoffrey Candia in preparation for Saturday's football game against Texas A&M.

Vick plead guilty to federal charges of dog fighting in August.

Candia's fraternity, through which he originally tried to sell the shirts, has been placed on temporary suspension and the university was seeking to charge it with violating the school's student code of conduct, Tech's Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Schonrock said in an official statement.

Shonrock said the company that printed the shirts stopped production Monday and issued an apology to Tech.

Dean Bresciani, A&M's vice president for student affairs, said he let Tech administrators know about the shirt several days ago and that they have been working hard to respond to the situation.

"We [administrators at A&M] have been very impressed with what the Texas Tech administration has done," he said. "They have bent over backward working to get a statement out about their disappointment with this student's behavior."

In an official statement, Texas Tech President Jon Whitmore said: "Texas Tech University is an institution of higher learning where values such as respect for others and civility are both taught and practiced.

"We will not permit individual students or any student organization to profit from selling merchandise on campus that is derogatory, inflammatory, insensitive, or in such bad taste that it reflects negatively on this fine institution, its students, athletic teams, alumni or faculty."

All this comes during recently launched Texas Tech's "Raider Power" program, a sportsmanship campaign aimed at improving the school's image during sporting events.

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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 101

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Dr Clinton Burns, Aggie Dad

posted 10/10/07 @ 4:55 AM CST

Capt Dudley B. Wheeler (class of '54), my former X.O. in the Special Forces, reminded us, "Nobody kicks a dead dog."

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David

posted 10/10/07 @ 7:49 AM CST

This is truly awful. As a Tech alumni I cannot be more ashamed that something like this would come from Tech students. At the very least the administration acted quickly. (Continued…)

(1 reply) Details Reply to this comment

Fred

posted 10/10/07 @ 8:11 AM CST

First, yeah the shirt was wrong and shouldn't never have been printed. However, what about all the actions that A&M students have done in the past to Tech mascots and other schools. (Continued…)

(2 replies) Details Reply to this comment

Lee Ann "03

posted 10/10/07 @ 8:38 AM CST

Hey Fred! I'm not too sure you are talking about Texas A&M fans when you mention what A&M students have done in the past to Tech mascots and other schools. (Continued…)

(6 replies) Details Reply to this comment

Leon 08

posted 10/10/07 @ 8:40 AM CST

I still don't see much of a difference between this and the 'saw em off' shirts that so many aggies are so fond of.

(4 replies) Details Reply to this comment

Brandon

posted 10/10/07 @ 8:47 AM CST

sawing horns off doesn't involve killing animals. big difference.

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Robert

posted 10/10/07 @ 9:02 AM CST

Some of you need to take a step off your high horse. Yes, some tech fans are low class, inconsiderate, ignorant people. Having said this most tech fans are not too different from yourself. (Continued…)

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Glen - Tech Alum

posted 10/10/07 @ 9:15 AM CST

I'd like to echo David's comments above. This t-shirt is an embarrassment to Tech, and the only consolation is that the administration meted out justice swiftly and fully. (Continued…)

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Britt

posted 10/10/07 @ 9:38 AM CST

Its not about sawing off horns or mocking one mans misdeeds, its about a student's first amendment right to print what ever shirt he pleases, a shirt that was bought by a copious amount of students whom seem to be like minded by-the-way. (Continued…)

(4 replies) Details Reply to this comment

Tom

posted 10/10/07 @ 9:39 AM CST

I'd like the thank the Tech administration for quickly stopping the sale of this shirt. I'd ask all fellow Aggies to please refrain from judging an entire university based on the actions of a few people. (Continued…)

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