Mixed Messages, er Drinks, at Hawai’i
Given the lawsuits and, uh, deaths that occur — not uncommonly — on college campuses as a result of alcohol abuse, it has become normal for universities to promote alternatives to alcohol consumption in addition to “responsible” drinking.
Given the above, we were surprised to see that the University of Hawai’i will apparently accept contributions from a beer company that will be based on the number of cases that are bought (and, presumably, consumed).
The donations from the beer company are slated for the athletics department — and not, in case you were wondering, for any kind of anti-alcoholism program.
If UH faculty don’t at least muster a symbolic protest or criticism of this development… we’ll be surprised.
In fact, events at Hawai’i made us wonder about other “vice” companies and their relationships with the Ivory Tower.
Playboy? Hooters?
Well, in the case of the former, the Playboy cover-guy Hugh Hefner is on the record for contributing more than $2 million over the years to the University of Southern California.
In the case of the latter (Hooters), there’s actually a stadium at Coastal Carolina University that is named after a now-deceased leading force of the company who also donated $2 million.
We’re not saying that we have a problem with these tax-deductions, er, we mean donations.
We do, though, think it’s worthwhile to juxtapose some of mixed drinks, er, messages that some schools seem to promote.
We also wonder what’s next?
The Hugh Hefner Center for Gender Studies? Or, the Hooters School for Diversity in Business?
Or, maybe Hawai’i can accept contributions for an InBev Center for the Study and Prevention of Alcohol Abuse.
Maybe.
Tags: Beer, charity, Coastal Carolina, Hawai'i, Hefner, Hooters, InBev, USC
