President Trebon and Student Body President respond to shirts

October 22, 2009

From Carroll College President Dr. Tom Trebon:

Dear Students at Carroll,

I want you to know, especially in this Centennial year, how proud I am to be the president of Carroll College and of our motto "Not for school but for life." I am particularly proud of you Carroll students and of your reputation as service-minded, community-oriented scholars. I celebrate your energy and your achievements-in the classroom, in your research efforts, when you're on the theatre stage or performing as part of our chorale or presenting as a "Talking Saints" participant or in athletic contests. I especially value your many service contributions at home and abroad. Know that I take every opportunity to celebrate the work of the students of Carroll College.

But then there are the shirts - those that a group of students wore last Saturday, on campus and in the broader community, containing what are clearly inappropriate, embarrassing, even disturbing words. The Carroll students who wore these T-shirts, with their offensive, crude language, were an embarrassment to the Carroll student body, to the College and to its traditions. At a minimum, these shirts showed a lack of hospitality toward Montana Tech; they evidenced lack of respect for the achievements of others; they were worn in total disregard for how they offended so many, from the very young to the prospective students and their parents visiting Carroll. Worse, the tasteless shirts violated Carroll College's fundamental values-self-respect, respect for the sacredness of every person, and respect for the institution of which we are all proud co-learners. The behavior of creating and wearing such shirts is a blemish on Carroll's local and national reputation as champions of character.

We know that the actions of each Carroll student reflect on all Carroll students, all alumni, and our school. We know that as we endeavor for a more just, humane and peaceful society, a place where civility and respect is paramount, we must expect more of each other, of ourselves and of our community. I call on you to represent the best in ourselves as Carroll Saints and discourage the designing, printing, selling, buying, and wearing emblems of public shame. Let's indicate that this behavior will not be tolerated at Carroll College.

For your information, I have personally called Chancellor Gilmore of Montana Tech to express my disappointment in the display by Carroll students. Together we agreed to work to create a culture of respect in all of our competitions. I call on each student to be a part of the change.


From Blair Parker, ASCC Student Body President

My fellow students,

First and foremost I want to again thank all of you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your student body president. With this being Carroll's centennial year, the opportunities we have to propel Carroll into the next century of higher education are endless. We each must do our part to help Carroll excel and to broaden the horizons of our college.

The Carroll Crazies are a big asset to this campus. Without them, the support that our athletic teams receive would be greatly affected, a big and important part of our college life would disappear.

That being said, the shirts worn by a small minority of students during last Saturday's football game was a giant step backward. As students, we need to realize that we are the premier representatives of this school. While the rivalry with Montana Tech is one of the most heated in the nation, it does not require us to stoop to this level of disrespect.

In the days since the game, we have received numerous comments from community members and alumni alike. Probably the most disturbing came from a potential employer threatening not to hire Carroll students in the future.

We are held to a higher standard than other colleges, though this may seem unfair, this is the main reason we chose to attend Carroll. Let's be proud of who we are and raise ourselves above the competition.

What's done is done. So, let's put this regrettable situation behind us, and enjoy the rest of this centennial year. We can't change what was done, but we can change what we do in the future.

If any of you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to get a hold of myself or any of your other ASCC executive officers.

Blair Parker
ASCC President