GMHS Lasso Online News Story

Winning Design Revoked
Concern Prompts 2^nd Contest
For Senior T-Shirt

By Gregg Curtin (March 28, 2006)

A second senior T-shirt design contest will be held at the beginning of April matching the original four contestants who submitted designs, after the winning design created by senior Sean Nannery failed approval by Principal Bob Snee.

After four T-shirt designs created by seniors Laura Lin, Stuart Gregg, Gregg Curtin and Nannery were put on display for voting on by the senior class in early March, Nannery’s design, which consisted of a pair of hands in silhouetted signals forming a zero and a six (representing the class of 2006), received the most votes and won the contest.

However, before the shirt’s design was to be printed on the shirts it did not pass approval by Principal Snee. Taking full responsibility for the decision, Snee explained that the design “at first glance, can clearly be interpreted as [some kind of] gang hand symbol,” he said in an interview with Lasso Online last week. From Snee’s point of view, having the design printed on shirts for almost the entire senior class would be a safety issue. Snee and the senior class sponsor consulted a few faculty members and local police officers about their opinions on the design, and if it would be appropriate. More than six of them took a “double-take,” he explained, and needed a brief explanation before they realized what was being represented through the hand symbols shown in the design.

This design by senior Sean Nannery drew concerns from several adults who viewed it and worried that it might too closely resemble gang images. (Photo by Caitlin Acosta)

With many of the adults expressing their concerns about the design’s reference to some kind of gang symbol, Snee decided that any member of the general public might interpret it similarly upon seeing the shirt; and may not respond positively.

The administration and senior class sponsor came up with an alternative resolution to simply exclude Nannery and his design from the contest. The alternative is to allow Nannery and the other previous contestants to submit as many designs as they want for another voting period by the senior class. “This is ridiculous. I won the contest,” Nannery told Lasso Online. Nannery explained that he had no intention of any kind to have his design resemble gang symbolism, an assertion with which Prinicpal Snee agrees. Nannery explained his opinion that he should have a chance to edit the design to fit the standards of approval from the administration, instead of giving all the other contestants another chance in the contest, which he won originally.

The winner of the contest will receive a $100 prize from the PTSA as well as have his or her design printed on the senior shirt, which will cost $10. Proceeds from the sale of the shirt will go to funding the All-Night Graduation Celebration, held for seniors at the end of the year.

Senior Sean Nannery holds the logo that he designed for the senior T-shirt. While his design won the contest, concerns over its appropriateness have led to a new contest. (Photo by Caitlin Acosta)