We are writing to address the outrage that we felt as we returned to the University for our first day of classes, only to be confronted with the message that our most valuable asset, as women, is the ability to take our shirts off for men.
As if this was not offensive enough, we were then confronted, the following day, with another ad that degraded and humiliated us as women by poking fun at the health and safety of all women.
And now, the most recent Yahoo! advertisement in Thursday’s Emerald not only demeans and reduces us to mere sexual objects but also reinforces, just one more time, that homophobic ads and comments are acceptable on campus. Sexist and homophobic attitudes and comments are not new, but it is time that the ODE reflect and see the decision to run this ad campaign as a sign of irresponsible journalism.
Organizations like the ODE must realize that ads like these contribute to the lack of safety on campus as much as poor campus lighting does. As a student-run newspaper, the ODE should be wary of alienating and objectifying more than half of the student body, as well as many other constituents of the campus community.
 

Nilda Brooklyn

Multicultural Advocate

ASUO Executive
 

Marian Fowler

Events Coordinator

ASUO Women’s Center
 
I have had the pleasure of seeing the wonderful Yahoo! ads that the Emerald has been running this week. I have to say that the Emerald has really outdone themselves this time. The ads have been an insult to women and also to the University culture.
The first ad requests that a “stoned” guy come look at a woman taking her top off. If that wasn’t bad enough, a second ad ran with a guy telling some woman to call her because his rash (STD?) came back.
The Emerald has really outdone themselves this time. These ads are demeaning, while additionally perpetuating violence and objectification of women, and at the same time insulting men as lowlifes who can’t even write legibly (basically insulting the entire college culture). Is the purpose of this ad campaign to actually relate to the culture? Is the college culture as pathetic as these ads imply?
Are you that desperate for advertising dollars that ultimately denigrate the value of your publication while creating litter everywhere that someone else has to clean up? It’s unfortunate that a college publication would go to such great lengths to hurt so many while the actual result is a negative impact on their own image. Is this the model of professional journalism that the Emerald would like students to take with them into their careers? And can you believe it? Someone actually got paid to create those ads.
 

Shyla Yearby
 
I wanted to express my concerns over the ads running in your newspaper about Yahoo! mail. I find it interesting that while we try so hard to work on campus diversity, women’s rights and campus safety we are bombarded with tasteless ads about “crotchless panties” and women “taking off their top.” I sure hope that the decision to run this ad campaign was a mistake that you are deeply regretting. There are other ways to promote or advertise a product, Yahoo!. On that note I would offer my version of this ad.
‘Yahoo! —
Start apologizing for your behavior and start treating women like they should be treated: with respect and equality. Thanks.
– Daniel
 

Daniel Valle

Senior