Student leaders are angered at a sexually explicit flyer distributed on campus Tuesday night.
The flyer, which bore the phrase "Wolverines Pack Fudge" above an explicit drawing, is an advertisement for shirts being sold with the same drawing. The shirts are being distributed through a Web site run by telecommunication, information studies and media senior Joseph Doss, who could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Rae Marcus, spokesperson for Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgender and Straight Ally students, said Wednesday the flyer had extra impact since this week is National Coming Out Days on campus.
"It's an outrage," Marcus said. "During this time, with National Coming Out Days, people come out and express sex and are proud of who they are."
In a statement on his Web site, Doss said he was using his Web space to help friends sell the shirt. He said he expected a controversy to arise but would not take the site down. Doss said the cartoon drawings were sexless and did not have an inference of homosexuality.
"I have always never cared about someone's sexual preference and I shall keep not caring about what people think about these T-shirts," Doss said on his Web site.
RHA spokesman Brian Winters said his organization condemned the flyer at its weekly meeting last night. Winters said he ripped them down when he saw them.
"I thought it was offensive to anyone of the homosexual persuasion, and if someone is sensitive to this sort of thing, then it offends me," Winters said.
Winters said he didn't know if any legal action would be taken against the creators of the shirt. He said RHA would discuss what its next action should be.
Marcus said the Alliance had yet to meet as a group and discuss how it would react to the flyer. A police report had not been filed Thursday afternoon.
After reading Doss's web site, Winters said he could not understand how Doss could think people wouldn't find the flyer offensive.
"He thinks this is funny and people are going to buy these shirts, but he is making a very ignorant joke," Winters said.
Lyman Briggs no-preference sophomore Vinny Pederson said he found the flyer under his door in East Holmes.
"It isn't the way to go about showing a rivalry," Pederson said. "It is discriminating against homosexuals to say everyone here thinks homosexuality is wrong."
Zoology sophomore Sarah Hay said she didn't see a problem with the flyer's statement. She said students were mature and old enough to not be offended.
"It's college and anything goes," Hay said. "Students shouldn't be upset. A lot of students said it was really funny. Most people were amused by it."
Alliance spokesperson Marcus said the flyers put out a powerful message that could negatively affect society.
"Words lead to hate crimes," Marcus said. "I wonder if this person will learn a lesson. "You can't oppress people."
