"Save Second Base" T-shirts raising money, awareness, eyebrows

Each year, seniors here Salina Central High School choose a service project.

This year Jessica Sheahon and Haley Wenthe decided to raise money for breast cancer research.

"It really hits close to home," Jessica said. "Both of our mothers had breast cancer and we just wanted a way that, we just wanted to pick a issue that is really prevalent today."

"To me, it's just something in honor of her memory and I know she would be extremely proud of," Haley said.

That's the reason the two started selling t-shirts.

"We thought that would be a great way to market to kids and get them thinking about breast cancer."

However, the school disagreed, they were told they couldn't sell them or wear them on campus.

"The t-shirt in question included a sexual innuendo that we felt was inappropriate for school. It was not a message we wanted to convey in school," Principal Stan Vaughn said.

Principal Vaughn says the school supports what the students are doing, however it cannot endorse the t-shirt.

But some students disagree.

"I think that if girls can wear shirts that imply a sexual message they should be able to wear breast cancer shirts. They're trying to do it for a good cause," student Jennifer Lash Elle said.

"It promotes a great cause in a light-hearted way rather than putting this many women die a year from breast cancer", student Cassie Werner said.

"It's kind of sad the administration has neglected to see how important it and how the t-shirts kind of a useful tool to get the word out," student Elliot Schrader said.

Despite not being able to sell the shirts at Friday night's football game, these shirts are selling like hot cakes. Just after school, the girls got home and found 400 orders waiting on their email account.

Now the girls are trying to keep up with all the orders.

The phrase "Save Second Base" has been used on t-shirts before. A Pennsylvania group started using it to raise breast cancer awareness Keystone State.


Comments

Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.

Oct. 19, 2007 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)ItsAllInYourHead (anonymous)

I say we buy the shirts and donate them to those high school girls that can't cover up. Let the girls sell the shirts! I've seen much worse clothing in high school, and nothing got done about that. And, it certainly didn't benefit any research. Wearing the breast cancer shirts in school can be argued. However, not letting them sell the shirts anywhere is just too much. I think it was creative, even if it has been done before. I want one myself.

Oct. 19, 2007 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)jillmeis (anonymous)

I love the idea and obviously that principal has never had a close relative diagnosed with breast cancer. Wonder if he knows men can get breast cancer as well.
Either way, how can I get one of these shirts?
please email me at jmeisenbach@ymcalincoln.org
Thanks and keep up the good work!

Oct. 19, 2007 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)talliemarie (anonymous)

Haha....I go to Central and say if those shirts can't be sold/worn, the we GOT to get rid of the football players shirts. I think this is a great idea, and I know the girls, they just wanted to raise money. I say Mr. Vaughn is unfair. If he won't support breast cancer awarness, I say Mr. Montoy should take over, he ROCKS!!!! <3 Taylor R.

Oct. 20, 2007 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)frankie1213 (anonymous)

I think the t-shirts are a great idea. This idea has been done before and has raised lots of money for breast cancer research. Ok, they do have a "sexual" connotation to them, but it's all in jest and it is for a GOOD cause. I think that they should have been allowed to sell them at the game. If the school admin doesn't want them worn at school, I say ok, but I'm sure there are lots of clothing worn at this school that is suggestive in one way or the other. Jessica and Haley - keep up the good work.

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