SEX MARKS THE SPOT

Sexy Legs sign vandalized, student organizations propose forum to discuss annual controversy

by David Baugher

A sign advertising the Sigma Pi fraternity's annual "Sexy Legs" contest was vandalized early Friday morning.

The sign, a wooden board featuring a silhouette of the "Charlie's Angels" logo, had been smeared with green paint. A statement issued by Sigma Pi said the vandalism had been discovered at approximately 12:30 a.m.

The "Sexy Legs" event, which took place Saturday night, has created controversy and the fraternity has been accused of objectifying women in its promotional material for the event. It ran into problems last year when the University removed a sign promoting the contest because it depicted a woman in a revealing dress. An even earlier "Sexy Legs" sign was the subject of debate in 1994 when a student filed a grievance over its content.

Before Friday's vandalism, there had been no significant public outbursts or protests over the latest incarnation of the sign, which featured a shadow outline of the "Charlie's Angels" logo.

"At this point, I don't see a problem with it," said Don McCarty, student services coordinator. "This year we've maintained a good dialogue, and I think everything is okay." Sigma Pi also commented on this year's good relationship between the fraternity and the administration.

"We have no problems with [McCarty] at all," said John Jauss, a Sigma Pi alumni.

"He's been completely cooperative with everything that we've done."

Jauss said that Sigma Pi had tried hard to cooperate with McCarty by redesigning the sign in hopes of avoiding the difficulties of previous years.

"We let him see the signs before we put them up," Jauss said. "We've kept close contact with both Don and the Women's Center to make sure there's no animosity."

Earlier in the week, Joe Osborne, Rush chair for Sigma Pi, said fraternity members found "anti-male propaganda" covering many of the fraternity's handbills and flyers.

"It was really kind of frightening," Osborne said in reference to the text of the flyer, titled "Growing up female," found in place of Sigma Pi's advertisements.

The author, identified only as "Kendall," writes, "i never worry about finding strange women in my apartment" and "women do not yell lewd comments at me when i wear a skirt."

Friday afternoon, Sigma Pi leaders met with University Program Board Director Sharone Hopkins. The two organizations agreed to invite the "vandal or vandals" responsible for defacing the sign to participate in a public discussion of the issues surrounding the sign and the fraternity's annual event.

Rick Blanton, interim director of Student Activities, said the event could be beneficial for everyone involved.

"No one learns from this type of behavior," Blanton said of the vandalism. "I think we could pack out that auditorium and promote a discussion that could help resolve this problem."

The proposed debate would be held in J.C. Penney 100 Sept. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. In an advertisement sponsored by UPB, Sigma Pi and The Current, student leaders urge the "person or persons who vandalized the Sexy Legs sign" to identify themselves before the scheduled forum by contacting Hopkins.

"We're trying to promote a forum for dicussion here between students," Hopkins said during the meeting Friday.

Fraternity officials agreed that a debate setting may help students understand both sides of the issues better.

Osborne defended the fraternity's annual fundraiser, calling it an equal opportunity promotion.

"We allow males and females to compete, and it's a fabulous rush tool," Osborne said. He estimated the fraternity makes "around $1,200" each year, charging $3 for entrance and attracting about 400 or 500 people.

"This is a typical 1980s fraternity party," Osborne said. "We've had to make changes like tone down the sign, and there is no drinking at the party."

Joanne Bocci, coordinator of the Women's Center, confirmed that she had had some informal contact with Sigma Pi over the issue.

Bocci said she generally had good relations with the fraternity.

"They have been very cooperative over these last few years and have worked hard to be in touch with me, to talk to me about the way they're handling what they're doing," Bocci said.

Bocci said that although she had philosophical differences with the contest, she was satisfied with the promotion of the event.

"Certainly, this year, I'm pleased with the way they're advertising it," Bocci said. "I've seen the sign and the posters over the last week or so, and I didn't see anything on there offensive."