Jackson student leaders want shirts back after slogans called offensive

What started out as an activity to boost school spirit at Jackson High School in Mill Creek has turned into a controversy that's left some students in tears and others wondering what student leaders and administrators were thinking.

On Tuesday, Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders passed out T-shirts to be worn today on the final day of the annual spring "Spirit Week." Each shirt was emblazoned with a big "J," for the school, on the front. On the back, in big block letters, was a word or two meant to describe each class.

Freshman were "Krabby Patty." Sophomores were "Stain." Juniors were "Mole Rat." Seniors were "Burnt Toast."

Many students had no idea what the words meant, but others said they had sexually suggestive connotations.

Some teachers and parents, directed by students to the Web site urbandictionary.com, found rude and graphic definitions for the terms, most applying to promiscuous girls.

Now ASB leaders have asked students to not wear the T-shirts and instead return them to the school. ASB leaders, who spent about $5,000 to buy and print shirts for all 1,900 students, say they want to spend another $4,000 to cover the offending words and print the class year on the backs instead.

"These were just goofy names that kids could rally around and build class pride and unity," said Mary Waggoner, Everett School District spokeswoman. "There was certainly nothing sexual intended."

Waggoner said that on the Web site, even apparently benign words can have obscene meanings.

"You can put in 'table' and 'chair.' Do it. Check it out," she said.

Dagney Crivell, ASB president, said the words were chosen from popular cartoons such as "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Kim Possible."

"I'm surprised that students would believe we'd buy shirts and put anything sexual on them," she said.

Karley Espinoza, a member of the Jackson leadership class, but not the ASB class responsible for the shirts, said the idea came from other high schools where the senior class picks out a name for incoming freshmen.

ASB officers turned down "beluga," Crivell said, saying it might imply students were fat. The phrase "mole rat" was accepted, providing the word "naked" be stricken from in front of the phrase.

A naked mole rat named Rufus is a character from the cartoon "Kim Possible."

But according to www.urbandictonary.com, it could either refer to someone who looks unattractive in the morning, or female genitalia.

And fans of SpongeBob SquarePants know that he grills up krabby patties at the Krusty Krab diner. But, according to the urban dictionary, a krabby patty could also refer to someone in a foul mood, or someone with a sexually transmitted disease.

Espinoza said in previous years, the school had a spring pep rally pitting the boys against the girls. Boys wore "Battle of the Sexes" T-shirts printed blue and girls wore the same shirt printed pink. She said some teachers and students complained that the activity was insensitive to students who struggled with sexual identity.

"It seems like every time we try to create new traditions, it gets blown out of proportion," Espinoza said.

But Adrian Tomoiaga, a sophomore, was skeptical of the ASB officers' motives.

"It's obvious that they intended it," he said. "Some people were saying it's true, some were crying about it because it hurt their feelings. I don't understand how it got by the principal."

But Tomoiaga said he wasn't offended by the seniors' "Burnt Toast." One meaning, he said, was senior girls who spend too much time at the tanning salon.

"That one was funny," Tomoiaga said.

Melissa Kane, another sophomore, said she had no idea what the words meant, but she said students quickly found out.

"Obviously we're going to question, what does this mean? The whole school knew by the end of the day."

Kane's mother, Sue, said she was angry that so much money was spent on T-shirts when students have to pay to print out homework packets. She said she'd like a letter of apology from ASB leaders to students and parents.

"What frosts me is that parents write the checks for ASB. We paid for these crap shirts." ASB funds come from fees for sports and other activities.

Eddie Anderson, another senior, said he thought the controversy was "ridiculous."

"Any words can be turned into something bad," he said.

But he was steamed the school would try to confiscate the offending shirts.

"We're not giving them back," he said.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com