T-shirts back gays at Duke

newsobserver.com ^ | April 28, 2003 | Jane Stancill

[Living Free in NH]

DURHAM -- At Duke University, being OK with being gay is something of a fashion statement these days.

In the past two weeks, hundreds of students have been seen wearing T-shirts that say, simply: "Gay? Fine by me."

Duke President Nan Keohane has one. Duke basketball players Nick Horvath and Shavlik Randolph have been spotted in the shirts.

"They're everywhere," said senior Amanda Poston, who got hers Thursday from the boxes of free shirts on a breezeway outside the student union. "This is a peaceful, passive way we can express how we feel."

The trend was started by a group of friends, gay and straight, who decided something had to be done about the perception that Duke is a homophobic place. A few years ago, the Princeton Review rated Duke as the most gay-unfriendly campus in the United States.

So the students thought up a slogan, ordered 500 T-shirts and planned to give them away to as many people as would take them.

The shirts were gone by noon the first day. A rush order of an additional 250 disappeared in about 15 minutes. In 10 days, 1,800 shirts were snapped up.

"We've been giving them away as fast as we can make them," said Leila Nesson, a graduate student in history.

Some were reluctant at first, she said, muttering, "I'll pass," when they saw the message on the shirts.

"Once it was clear there were hundreds of students wearing them," she said, "that was no longer a problem."

The shirts became a must-have.

The friends solicited donations from student groups on campus. They raised $7,200 to pay for the shirts.

Spring classes are over, but the group has contacted college students across North Carolina to suggest similar T-shirt giveaways in the fall. N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. Central University and Guilford College have expressed interest.

The "fine by me" movement at Duke hasn't been without controversy, though. A group of feminists said the message was troubling. "Perhaps we should invest in a 'It is not my right to authorize your sexuality' shirt," they wrote in an e-mail message.

Abigail Weliver, a senior who stopped by the shirt booth last week, doesn't see it that way.

"I don't think it's necessarily validation," she said. "It's more a sign of solidarity and support and friendship."

Staff writer Jane Stancill can be reached at 956-2464 or janes@newsobserver.com.

[Calvin Coolidge]

And don't forget that Danny Ferry played for Duke around this time, too. We Kentucky fans have long memories ...

[Al B.]

Back in the early 90s when Christian Laettner played for Duke there were tons of rumors floating around that he was gay.

Laettner's wife and child would probably disagree with the substance of that rumor.

Everyone I know who went there is a hidebound liberal ideologue.

This is one alum who survived with his ideology intact.

[Hatteras]

"Gay? Kiss My @$$!"

Of course, results may vary...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

One of the t-shirt slogans that was scrapped:

"Get behind Gays...and they'll get behind you!"

[Blood of Tyrants]

How about:
"Gay? What makes you think I care?"

"Gay? Why do you feel that you deserve special priveleges?"

"Gay? Why do you feel the need to rub my nose in it?"

"Gay? Keep it in your pants where it belongs."

"Gay? I'm so sorry and I will pray for your healing."

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Is the message on the front or the rear, so to speak?

[robertpaulsen]

"_______? Fine by me." --- The definition of what's wrong with our society today. Moral relativism is running rampant, and no one dares to criticize anyone's (PC) behavior, even if they don't agree with it.

The philosophy is, "If it's not illegal I can do it. If it is illegal I'll do it anyway, then file a lawsuit (when caught) claiming some kind of discrimination."

[Blood of Tyrants]

Not unless you want to be publically stoned to death.

[Lee'sGhost]

"the Princeton Review rated Duke as the most gay-unfriendly campus in the United States."

There's so much wrong this concept it's laughable. More unfriendly than say, Arkansas or Ol Miss? I find that hard to believe. And why would Dook stoodents give a rat's patutee what Princeton thinks? Oh, I forgot, that's close to where their parents live.

"I would expect such behavior from the boys in powder blue, but Duke? I am shocked. :)"

Ha, ha, CD, I think you're getting you're color code for sexuality mixed up. "Powder Blue" would denote being effeminate. Dook added black to their uniforms to denote their gay S&M leanings.

[TC Rider]

University of South Jersey?

[Lee'sGhost]

"Of course, results may vary..."

Bwahahahahahaha!

[SquirrelKing]

So, if you were riding a bus and a gay sat down next to you, would you get off?

4,3,2...

[bourbon]

Laettner's wife and child would probably disagree with the substance of that rumor.

Yeah. I thought that he was married now. Nevertheless, you have to admit that there were some pretty hefty rumors following him around in those days. I suppose it was the haircut or something. :-)

This is one alum who survived with his ideology intact.

Glad to hear it. Conservatives/libertarians are survivors by definition!

But aren't you surprised that Duke would be rated the most "gay-unfriendly" campus in America?

[Lee'sGhost]

"Gay? Chat me up!" in Faglish.

LOL! Another good one.

[headsonpikes]

I'm as open-minded as you please...

"Gay? Who gives a rat's @ss?"

[Lee'sGhost]

It should read "Gay? The Wages of Sin is Death."

Spoken like a true, well . . . professor.

[Calvin Coolidge]

Wouldn't it be "The Wage of Sin is Death"?

I still prefer: "Gay? And why do you think I care?"

[Al B.]

But aren't you surprised that Duke would be rated the most "gay-unfriendly" campus in America?

Yes, but consider the source of this ranking...the Princeton Review. Could be an agenda at work here.

[robertpaulsen]

"Gay? Who gives a rat's @ss?"

Rats? I thought they used gerbils.

[bourbon]

And why would Dook stoodents give a rat's patutee what Princeton thinks?

I may be wrong but I don't think that the Princeton Review (a private co. like Kaplan) has any real affiliation to Princeton University, other than the fact that it may have been started by some alums.