Governance, administration discuss unauthorized "Women of KU" calendar

The unauthorized "Women of KU" calendar, on sale locally by the World Company, has drawn the scrutiny of university governance and the KU administration.

In a letter dated Dec. 5, SenEx Chair Ray Davis wrote to Executive Vice Chancellor for University Relations Janet Murguia that some SenEx members believe the calendar exploits female students and leaves the perception that it has a connection to KU.

Murguia responded, expressing similar concerns, and said the university is reviewing the issues the calendar raises and considering its options for addressing them.

The university, she wrote in a letter Dec. 10, has no association with the calendar and did not license it. She noted that several of the calendar's photographs "were taken at recognizable locations on the KU campus without our knowledge or consent. Some of these photographs also contain registered KU trademarks."

The full text of the letters:

December 5, 2003
TO: Janet Murguia, Executive Vice Chancellor
FROM: Ray Davis, chair, Senate Executive Committee
RE: The "Women of KU" Calendar at www.kusports.com

At its meeting this week, SenEx members discussed a concern suggested by Athletic Director Lew Perkins about the "Women of KU" Calendar. There is a perception that the calendar, which some members believe is exploitive of female students, purports to be affiliated with KU since some of the photographs were taken in KU facilities and the models are wearing clothing with the KU logo. It seems, however that the calendar is a money-making project of the Lawrence Journal World and has no affiliation with KU.

Does the University require prior permission for the use of its facilities and logo? Is yes, did the University grant permission for the "Women of KU" calendar? Is it advertised for sale in KU publications? Is the University connected in any way to this calendar? Does there appear to be any action taken by Governance and the administration to clarify what rules operate and under what circumstances?

Thank you for looking into this matter for SenEx.
cc: Lew Perkins, Athletic Director

December 10, 2003
Dr. Ray Davis, Chair
Senate Executive Committee

Dear Dr. Davis:

Thank you for your memo, on behalf of SenEx, concerning the World Company’s “Women of KU” calendar and the status of KUsports.com. I share your concerns in this matter.

The University of Kansas has no association with KUsports.com, the calendar, or calendar-related merchandise. The university does not license the calendar and receives no benefit from its sale.

Further, KU does not condone the sexually suggestive depiction of anyone - male or female - for profit, especially when there is a perception of university involvement. We are concerned that several photographs in the calendar were taken at recognizable locations on the KU campus without our knowledge or consent. Some of these photographs also contain registered KU trademarks.

In answer to your specific questions:

• KU does request prior consultation when our facilities are used for a commercial venture by an outside party. In this instance, the World Company did not notify us so we had no opportunity to discuss our concerns with them.

• Use of the Jayhawks logo and other registered KU symbols in commercial ventures requires permission and a licensing/royalty agreement. The World Company did not seek permission for use of any of the university’s registered marks.

• Finally, the calendar is not advertised for sale in any KU-controlled publication, nor has it been advertised in Kansas Alumni magazine. The calendar is not sold by any bookstore affiliated with the university.
The university is reviewing the issues raised by both the calendar and a calendar-related DVD product: “Rock Chalk Bikini Top: Five Years of the Women of K.U. Calendar,” and is considering its options for addressing these issues.

I hope this answers your questions and gives you and SenEx a better idea of how the university intends to respond in this matter. I would be happy to update you at some future time.

Sincerely,Janet Murguia
Executive Vice Chancellor

cc: Lew Perkins, Athletics Director