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Show UVU REVIEW OPINIONS A7 GRAPHIC MODIFIED BY TARALYN MENDENHALL Cougartown on campus Wolverine pride in apparel The banning of BYU shirts turns our campus into a dictatorship and not one I would like to be in By Barbara Finlinson Staff Writer @bubblestweets During the student body election debates last Tuesday, presidential candidate Tyler Brklacich, of Team Rise, mentioned he'd like to ban students from wearing BYU t-shirts on campus. In the words of Ace Ventura: "Alrighty then." In my opinion, a student body presidential candidate who may or may not in the future be in control of millions of UVU dollars should have more important issues on his mind. This is college. I think most of us are at least trying to act like adults. Whether you like BYU or not, you should be slightly alarmed to hear a student body presidential candidate express the desire to dictate what you can or can't wear. This is UVU and the last time I checked we are located in the United States of America, where freedom still reigns and people can choose to wear what they want. Or can we? Last week it was reported that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that bans students at a northem California high school from wearing t-shirts with the American flag on them during Cinco de Mayo. If that surprises you, rest assured you aren't the only one. Fox News quoted the mother of a student affected by the decision stating: "This is the United States of America. The idea that it's offensive to wear patriotic clothing, regardless of what day it is, is unconscionable to me." Many people were outraged over the ruling. The Appeals Court upheld the ruling to try and curb the violence that has erupted in the past on that day due to the shirts. But this is UVU, there isn't any violence going on between students who outwardly show support for their school. Actually, maybe there is. You'd know it first-hand if you happened to attend the game on Thursday night between UVU and NMSU where UVU dominated in overtime with a victory of 6661. Fans rushed the court after the game and a brawl ensued. Security personnel and coaches did their best to curb the violence and news reported no injuries, but it was clear the rivalry brought heated emotions. Could sports be the be asked with force to go home and change. Okay, maybe it wouldn't go down quite like that, but I'd like to hear exactly what team Rise has in mind I sent a shout out to Tyler for an interview on the subject. So far my attempts at communication have not been answered. This is why it is important to pay attention to the issues at school elections. This is why you should attend the student body election de- We're Wolverines, not Cougars and we should be proud of that By Brittany M. Plothow Opinions Editor @brittanyplo During the UVUSA election campaign Tyler Brklacich, Student Body President candidate of Team Rise, said he didn't want to see BYU shirts on campus anymore. Why does this matter and why should we care? Sadly, UVU has a misguided reputation for being "BYU-lite" in Utah valley. Nothing could be further dent body is colorful, broad, inclusive, diverse and amazing. I've been blessed to be exposed to a wide range of students during my time at UVU. From ex-convicts, transgender persons, a large number of members of the LGBT community, people with purple hair, tattoos, piercings and more. Try finding that at BYU. Why does it matter than we shun the Cougar apparel and learn to bleed green? "We are blessed to be around such a diversity of people and we are still able to transfer," said Elisha Ward. Jr-Nor, --- 111111111111 LICHELLE JENKENS/UVU REVIEW BYU apparel is a common occurance at Utah Valley University. real issue? Many of those BYU t-shirt wearers are in it for exactly that, the sports. They don't necessarily love the schools, but they are die-hard fans of the team. I'm not sure I know of a single sports fan that would enjoy being told they could not wear their favorite team on their clothing. Do you know one? Whether said in jest or in all seriousness, I would like to know how Team Rise would enforce such a rule. I can see it all now. There would be husky security guards stationed at all entrances policing clothing and checking bags for paraphernalia from other schools. When an offending party was found, they would bates. This is why it is important to vote. We have rights. This is America. If you don't know that, go and read the First Amendment. George Orwell, a famous journalist, novelist and critic, once said: "Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship." Tyler, don't turn this into a dictatorship. Let us not force the people to wear clothing that supports UVU. We should, instead, make UVU so amazing people wouldn't have the desire to wear the shirt of another campus while in these grand old halls. I think it's possible. BROOKE MORRILUIIVII REVIEW UVU apparel can be purchased at the UVU Bookstore. from the truth. UVU has a vastly different culture than BYU, a culture that I love and was at the top of my list when I decided to become a Wolverine. Our stu- "Overall, we are just as good as BYU and U of U, we just don't have to pay as much." UVU graduate Krystal Guerra applies this idea to the business world. She said, "It wouldn't be socially appropriate to wear logos of other direct competitors in our line of work." For student Jeremy Buck this is one of his biggest pet peeves he has when walking around campus. "If people can't have pride in their own school then they should go somewhere else," he said. "I can understand that a lot of people grew up cheering for other schools before they came to college, I did too, but once they're here at UVU, they should take pride in the school they're attending." "At what other college in the nation would it be acceptable to wear a different school's apparel?" said student Annie Hansen. Some students don't feel as strongly and believe Wolverines should be able to wear whatever logos they choose, BYU or otherwise. "While we are at it, let's ban buttoning the top button without a tie and Aztec leggings," Jonathan Turnbow said comparing this to any other trend people might not be a fan of. "What else don't some people like?" Krystal Guerra also played devil's advocate about this subject when she said, "I love UVU and bleed green and was heavily involved but seeing as UVU does not have a football team and there are students who are big supporters of said team, I feel like its unfair to not allow them to wear their football pride." While it's true that UVU doesn't have a football team and maybe never will, we have an amazing basketball team as well as other sports teams we should support with our Wolverine green. School pride should not be reliant on football. We are still a fairly young school and an even younger university, which is all the more reason to feel proud of being one of the founding Wolverines and supporting the school even with something as simple as wardrobe. After all, we mighty Wolverines have an X-Men and a movie franchise which is much cooler than the Cougars anyway. |