Wax not on
Chest hair removal fundraiser canceled; latest OSD decision questioned
By Lindsay Fiori
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OK, guys - take a sigh of relief.
Hunger Clean-Up's proposed chest waxing fundraiser was canceled by the Office of Student Development because of liability issues. Although some male volunteers will be spared the pain of having their chests waxed, Hunger Clean-Up will not receive its expected funding from the event.
"We were going to have a bunch of guys volunteer to get their chests waxed, and people would have donated to rip a strip," said Kevin Konieczka, co-coordinator of Hunger Clean-Up and a junior in the College of Health Sciences. "It was a new idea this year, still in the infant stages, that never really got off the ground."
According to Mark McCarthy, assistant vice president and dean of student development, the decision was made primarily for health and safety reasons.
Konieczka said OSD often uses liability issues as reasons for rejecting campus programs.
"They said we were free to do it, just not on campus," he said. "I understand the decision, but it's an unfortunate thing that it got canceled, because I am in favor of any funds for Hunger Clean-Up."
Hunger Clean-Up hosts many other fundraisers each year that have been successful in the past - a trend that is expected to continue, according to Konieczka.
Not the first time
The Hunger Clean-Up fundraiser is the latest in a string of recent decisions by OSD that have raised eyebrows on campus.
"Each of the decisions was made after careful consideration of the requests and in consultation with other pertinent offices and personnel," McCarthy said.
After approving a College Republicans table in the Alumni Memorial Union to support America's troops, OSD confiscated the "Adopt a Sniper" literature and materials on display in February 2005 two hours after the table had been set up. University officials said the program's message did not fit the university's mission. The "Adopt a Sniper" program supplies body armor and equipment for snipers from U.S. troops in Iraq.
The Human Rights Campaign of Marquette would have advocated gay and lesbian issues on campus, but was denied official recognition in March 2005 by the Office of Student Development. OSD rejected the group's request and constitution because parts of it did not reflect the university's mission statement and because some issues the group planned to address were inimical to Catholic teachings.
A showing of the film "Brokeback Mountain" at the Varsity Theatre was approved in April 2006 by OSD despite a morally offensive rating from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office for Film and Broadcasting. Films at the Varsity are chosen by MUSG and reviewed by OSD, which bases its decisions on policies and procedures listed in the Student Handbook for the distribution of literature, sponsorship of visiting speakers, public performances and the screening of films.
The proposed Students for Academic Freedom group was denied recognition as a student organization by OSD in January because of objections to the group's constitution and planned activities. If approved, SAF would have advocated a student bill of rights and the empowerment of students in the academic sphere. Monday, OSD approved Students for a Free Marketplace of Ideas, a group created by SAF's founder.
Tribune archives were consulted for this report.
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