Posted on 09/30/2004 10:49:18 AM PDT by Colofornian
T-shirts proclaiming the message "I cant ... I'm Mormon" are apparently too hot for Brigham Young University, as the college newspaper has yanked all advertisements.
According to the Deseret Morning News, the paper halted the ad campaign after complaints from students, professors and administrators who felt the slogan implied a desire to engage in "objectionable" behavior.
Many thought wearers of the clothing wished they could drink, smoke or have casual sex – but were prevented solely because of their membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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One letter to the editor stated: "I can't, I'm Mormon, but if I wasn't, you know I'd be there 'cause it sounds sweet!"
Some reportedly believed the woman modeling the T-shirt in the ad posed in an overly provocative manner.
The objections are surprising to the designer of the shirt, Utah Valley State College student Chad Ramos.
Having grown up in Las Vegas, Ramos says the slogan came in handy whenever he was asked to drink or smoke.
"I found if I told people I didn't drink, they didn't know how to react," he told the News, "but if I said, I can't, I'm Mormon, they said, 'Oh,' and boom, it was over."
Thus, he was shocked by the BYU backlash.
"I didn't identify with it. I couldn't even relate," he said. "Anybody who's lived outside Utah has said this a hundred times."
Cartoon in BYU's college newspaper pokes fun at "offended" students (artist David Lesue/The Daily Universe )
Jim Kelly, general manager of the Newsnet Advisory Board which runs the student newspaper, says he, not the administration of the university, made the decision to remove the commercial.
"We don't frequently pull ads, but in terms of declining to run ads, probably two weeks don't go by that we don't decline ads for the Daily Universe," he told the News. "It is universal among newspapers to exercise the right to refuse ads considered objectionable. We're pleased we have high standards, and we're never apologetic about it."
If the ads are censored, is that an indicator that the shirts should be censored, too? If offered such a t-shirt for free, is the proper response, "I can't...I'm Mormon."
I doubt they'd have any objections if the shirts said, "I won't...I'm Mormon."
Didn't stop Mark Hacking.
or you just point to the tattoo that reads "I can't, I'm Mormon." That is, if you can...
I Can't...I'm John Kerry or is that "I Can" "no, no I can't"
"I can't, I'm an American"
The newspaper is well within it's rights to refuse to run the ad (which can still be run in many other publications). If the shirt said "I won't" or "I don't" instead of "I can't" I doubt there would be any fuss about it.
BYU is a private University funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Students are required to sign onto a code of behavior that includes a dress code. If University officals deem the shirt in violation of the dress code, students will not be allowed to wear it, but I don't know the dress code well enough to say if the shirt would be considered in violation.
or "I've already done it - I'm a liberal"
I like that one.
Mormons don't mess around.
Much better. Too bad they shirt designer didn't think of that.
There are two ways to take it, either as "I am so committed to my faith that I will not lower my standards." or as "I would love to lower my standards but my religion has more control over my life than I do."
I'm not Mormon but I have heard this stated from other Mormons not from Utah. A couple who have gone to Utah for school have found the folks there a lot different from the ones they go to church with, say in Texas.
I think BYU is being a little over sensitive here but they can do what they want.
I totally understood the designer's point. About half of my family is LDS and none of them live in Utah. They do spend a lot of time saying this very thing. Non-Utah LDS have to be a lot more vocal and proactive when it comes to saying no. In Utah, a lot of things are just taken for granted.
True...and I think the latter, derogatory connotation is more inferred than implied. There is no sure-fire defense against the perceptions of the perverted.
I noted from the article that the "I can't...I'm Mormon" slogan started because the creator was tired of explaining why he wouldn't drink alcohol. My answer to such situations was very simple, "None for me, thanks. I've had enough."
Next shirt: "We can't take it... we're Mormon administrators!"
Mitt Romney needs a shirt like that to wear everytime the Democrat-controlled legislature brings a bill to his desk! lol
Are you aware this implies you have already been drinking?
Far more do than one might think.
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