Anyone looking to throw back liquor in a shot glass bearing the Ohio University emblem better stock up now, because university officials have banned these glasses from being sold.
A sign posted in College Book Store, 50 S. Court St., reads, On November 11
2004 we were informed by the licensing agent for Ohio University that we are no longer permitted to produce shot glasses with Ohio designs.
The decision to no longer allow OU-labeled shot glasses began with Dean of Students Terry Hogan, said Barbara Nalazek, assistant director of university legal affairs. She said that, before finalized, the decision had to be approved by several university offices, including university advancement, communication and marketing and legal affairs.
Hogan said the action is not a ban but the university's choice not to allow the further use of the OU logo on shot glasses.
Hogan said the idea came from the Coalition Advocating Responsible Drinking Decisions, a group that he co-chairs and is made up of OU students, faculty and administration. The goal of the group is to reduce high-risk drinking on campus.
Drinking shots
in my view
is high-risk drinking
he said.
Hogan said he did not want it to appear that OU was endorsing and profiting off of unhealthy drinking, by having its logo appear on shot glasses.
Businesses are allowed to sell the shot glasses they have, just not produce any more, Nalazek said.
The sign posted in College Book Store warns patrons, OU shot glasses are banned
buy them while you can. A shift manager at College Book Store said the book store had no comment on the issue.
Lee Barber, manager of Universitees, 30 N. Court St., said his store has already begun selling out of OU shot glasses. We have a few left
he said. There's a high demand for them
obviously
in this town.
OU has registered trademarked logos with the federal government, Nalazek said. If someone wants to use one of the logos, they need to get a license from OU's license and resource group. She said if a requested use of an OU logo is questionable, the license and resource group checks with OU administrators before making a decision.
You'd be amazed at the stuff people want to license
Nalazek said. In the past, people have attempted to license toilet seats, coffins and tattoos, she said.
Businesses are still permitted to produce beer steins and pilsners with OU logos, which Nalazek said seems inconsistent with the shot glass ban, but also said the nature of the products' use is the reason for the difference.
You can have a beer
